Following the massive tsunami of endorsements that marked the Ibibio nation reception of Governor Udom Emmanuel and the general acceptability of PDP by every strata of Akwa Ibom society, the All Progressives Congress has announced its withdrawal from the forthcoming local government elections in the state.
In an emotional laden tone, the All Progressives Congress in a press release surrendered their bid for any position in the local government elections scheduled for November 11, this year.
During the Ibibio nation reception for Governor Emmanuel last Monday, it was the resolve of the entire senatorial districts and ethnic nationalities in the state , that Akwa Ibom was safer and better with the Peoples Democratic Party, and that Governor Emmanuel was the only choice to remain in the saddle as Governor till 2023.
The rave of support on PDP and the eventual stability in the national leadership of the party through the Supreme Court judgement on Tuesday allegedly sent panic into the camps of the few APC follow The truth which even their shabby press release shows is their lack of preparation. Can a party that cannot issue a clean copy of a press release prepare well for elections? Can a party that cannot differentiate between state working and state executive committee, prepare for an election?ers in the state as every royal father and leader of ethnic based groups all spoke in one voice, supporting Mr Emmanuel and routing for the PDP.
In the release signed by the acting Publicity Secretary, Barr Edet Bassey, the APC alleged that, the decision of the party is predicated on the absolute lack of trust in the capacity of the state electoral commission, AKISIEC to conduct a free and credible local government election.
While PDP stakeholders have commenced grassroots tour to galvanize support from the electorate, the APC state executive committee said it has instructed its team of lawyers to institute legal actions against AKISIEC.
It would be recalled that PDP has always maintained a clean sweep of the polls in Akwa Ibom state since 1999, always leaving one or no local government for the opposition party.
It will be recalled that the All Progressives Congress in the state had been in the forefront, calling for the conduct of the local government elections in the state.
Reacting to the development, the State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Barr Ini Ememobong blames the withdrawal on lack of preparation.
“The truth which even their shabby press release shows is their lack of preparation. Can a party that cannot issue a clean copy of a press release prepare well for elections? Can a party that cannot differentiate between state working and state executive committee, prepare for an election?”
Mr Ememobong said it was illogical for a party to complain of a process without any concrete evidence.
“With their advertised numerical strength and the claim of the non-existence of the PDP, should they not be glad to undertake a walk over at the local government polls using that as a prelude to their much mouthed take over in 2019. Or are they afraid of the resurgence of the PDP especially with the recent victory in Osun state, even with a sitting APC governor?”
It would be recalled that an APC chieftain and Managing Director of the NDDC, Mr Nsima Ekere had recently announce his withdrawal from the 2019 governorship elections, springing suspicions that the former deputy governor was overwhelmed by the successes recorded by Governor Emmanuel and subsequent swelling of his support base.
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