Members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP in Mbo Local Government Area have zoned the council chairmanship seat to the Effiat axis of the area, ahead of the September 2020 local government elections in Akwa Ibom State.
This follows a motion moved by Barr Torosco Ebiene and seconded by Obonganwan Sarah and supported by everyone through a voice vote in a meeting convened by the party chairman, Hon Etetim Isemin at Skypoint Hotel, Oron.
Others who took the position during a party meeting were Hon Sunday Etim, a state party officer; Chief Eyoh Edet, deputy coordinator of Divine Mandate, Governor Udom Emmanuel’s Campaign Organization; Joe Anwana, and Oscar Odoro.
Participants drawn from all the five political blocs of PDP in Mbo, including Nyong Archibong Okon (Effiat), Hon Lawrence Ntuen (Uda zone); Hon Oscar Asuquo Afiokinye (Ebuhu zone), Oscar Edet (Enwang zone), Aniefiok Abang ((Udesi zone); Obongaanwan Sara, spoke for their zones and also endorsed the zoning.
Justifying their position, leaders of PDP in Mbo said Effiat zone has never had a taste of the council chairmanship office since 1999 when Nigeria returned to democracy.
According to the PDP leaders, their action would allow justice and fair play to play out during the election.
The asked all aspirants on the platform of PDP in Mbo from other zones of Ebughu, Uda, Udesi, and Enwang to let go their ambitions for an Effiat son or daughter to emerge chairman.
“We all know that Effiat zone needs power. With all our consciences, we should ensure that this time around, the next council chairman should come from Effiat. We all know the truth,” Lawrence Ntuen said .
Speaking in a similar vein, a woman leader, Obonganwan Sarah said what would make democracy work smoothly and peacefully in Mbo Local Government Area and PDP in Mbo in particular, would be to ensure the chairmanship seat goes round the five zones in the area.
Obongamwan Sarah, who spoke alongside ten women representing the ten wards of PDP in Mbo Local Government Area, added: “We want to ensure that justice and fairness dominate what we want to do in the area of zoning the chairmanship position.”
Available records on elective political positions and offices held by Mbo indigenes from May 1999 till date show that the Ebughu zone has produced three local government chairmen and two members of the House of Assembly; Uda, two chairmen and three House of Assembly members; Udesi, one chairman and two House of Assembly members, and Enwang with two chairmen and one House of Assembly member, leaving Effiat with nothing.
