FAITHFULS of the Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom have expressed satisfaction with the leadership of the party in the state for a successful conduct of the Chairmanship primaries last weekend.
The exercise which was generally peaceful and transparent took place at designated centers across the 31 local government areas of the State.
In Essien Udim which is Governor Godswill Akpabio’s birthplace, the situation was not different not different as a former council chairman in the area, Mr Nse Ntuen re-emerged as the party’s candidate.
In Uyo the state capital, Mr Ekerette Ekpenyong defeated two other aspirants to emerge victorious through a process described by a political elder in the area Dr. Maurice Ebong as “solidarity of the people to good governance”.
The former Commissioner for Information in the State, Mr Aniekan Umanah was among delegates who voted in Abak, in a process that saw the election of Mr Joseph Ikpaisong as the candidate with 277 votes out of the 278 votes cast.
Mr Aniekan Umanah said the transparent nature of the primary in his area was a reflection of the transparent and visionary leadership enjoyed in the State under Governor Akpabio’s leadership.
In Ibesikpo Asutan local government, the immediate past chairman of the party in the State Prince Uwem Ita Etuk commended the party delegates for their peaceful conduct, describing the entire exercise as an improvement on previous ones.
Meanwhile a female aspirant Mrs Mfon Etim, according to our reporter, was declared the winner after polling 166 votes to defeat other aspirants in Nsit Ibom.
The same story was obtained in Ikot Ekpene where Mrs Gloria Ini Usen emerged as standard bearer of the party, a victory described by the PDP state woman leader as symbolic. Obonganwan Regina Udomah said it was the first time a woman will lead Ikot Ekpene which is renowned as the oldest local government in Nigeria. Mr Favour Otong an aspirant said he has accepted the election of Mrs Usen, and promised to contribute to her final victory in the local government elections.
In Etinan the hometown of the PDP Chairman Mr Paul Ekpo, the exercise was described as peaceful and credible with a defeated aspirant Mr Sampson Akpan lifting the hands of the declared winner Mr Kenneth Okon.
Speaking with newsmen,the State Chairman of the party Mr Paul Ekpo said the PDP in Akwa Ibom is reformed and will continue to exhibit justice in dealing with all aspirants. “Those who have emerged today will know that they sit on the people’s mandate, and will perform well in line with the confidence reposed in them by the people.”
Mr Ekpo scored the new party leadership above 90 percent in the conduct of the local government primary election, saying that “internal democracy has come to say under the big umbrella”.