Crisis rocks Mbo PDP as party splits into 2 factions
-Mbo PDP stakeholders zone chairmanship slot to Enwang Community
-Another faction zones same seat to Effiat
Despite repeated denial by the party leadership, more revelations have emerged that the predicament of the People’ Democratic Party, PDP, in Mbo Local Government Area is something to worry about, with the party splitting into at least two factions.
The current crisis rocking Mbo PDP, observers said, is fueled by the struggles between the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, Deputy Coordinator of Divine Mandate, Governor Udom Emmanuel’s Campaign Organization, Chief Eyoh Edet (Eyotech) over the control of the party structures in the area.
The crux of the matter is the zoning of chairmanship seat ahead of the forthcoming local government elections.
While Dr Ekuwem’s faction, supported by the member Representing Oron Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Nse Ekpenyong and the Local government Chairman, Rt Hon. Asuwuo Eyo, favours Enwang; the faction led Chief Eyoh Edet (Eyotech), backed by the Chapter Chairman, Hon. Etetim Isemin and the state party officer; Hon Sunday Etim, all from Effiat Community, insists that it’s the turn of Effiat.
Mbo PDP stakeholders cede chairmanship slot to Enwang:
Rising from an enlarged stakeholders meeting on Sunday, 19th July, 2020 in Uyo, convened, chaired and moderated by the Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, Mbo PDP stakeholders ceded the chairmanship slot to Enwang Group of Villages.
After discussing extensively on the forthcoming Local Government elections, the PDP stakeholders unanimously agreed that Enwang Community should be allowed to complete their second term in the interest of peace and fair play.
Mbo PDP stakeholders, however, warned other communities in Mbo not to present aspirants in the forthcoming Local Government election and charged Enwang sons and daughters to take advantage of the resolution and make their intentions known as AKISIEK announces election guidelines ahead of the elections.
Speakers at the meeting reasoned that since second term mandate has come to stay in Mbo, wisdom and justice demand that Enwang should be allowed to complete a second term while Effiat prepares for the House of Assembly seat come 2023.
They affirmed the recently published Mbo PDP Stakeholders list, numbering 53 persons, past and present leaders drawn from the five constituent communities in Mbo comprising Ebughu, Effiat, Enwang, Uda and Udesi as well as the 10 political wards of Mbo.
Others who bag the arrangement were: President General, Oron Union, Bishop Etim Ante; former Commissioner for Information in the state, Prince Chris Abasieyo; former Members, Mbo State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Alice Ekpenyong and Hon. Okon Asukwo Frank; Sir Michael Essang, board members, opinion leaders, community leaders, Special Assistants to the Governor and Youth Leaders.
Other items discussed during the meeting were peaceful preparations for the election and support for the Governor’s Economic Development in Mbo Local Government Area.
But Chief Eyoh Edet (Eyotech), Hon. Etetim Isemin and Hon Sunday Etim boycotted the meeting
PDP in Mbo zones council chairmanship seat to Effiat:
Few days later, in counter meeting, Chief Eyoh Edet’s camp zoned the council chairmanship seat to the Effiat axis.
This follows a motion moved by Barr Torosco Ebiene, seconded by Obonganwan Sarah and supported by everyone through a voice vote in a meeting convened by the party chairman, Hon Etetim Isemin at Chief Eyoh Edet’s Skypoint Hotel, Oron.
Others who supported the position during a party meeting were 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 Mbo PDP 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.
Until the emergence of the outgoing council chairman, who hails from Enwang, through the intervention of Governor Udom Emmanuel, both Enwang and Effiat never tasted the chairmanship on elective capacity.
It appears only the governor’s intervention could solve the crisis rocking Mbo PDP.
