PDP NEC,NWC shun Udom, Clears all disqualified aspirants despite alleged financial inducement

Governor Udom Emmanuel’s desperate effort to lobby the NEC and NWC of the Peoples Democratic Party to save him from embarrassment by upholding the disqualification of some aspirants from Akwa Ibom state has finally backfired.

The demise of the governor according to an NEC member, may not be unconnected to the allegation that he is involved in sponsoring court cases against the party through the former chairman Uche Secondus and turned around to dictate to the leadership.

Recall that the state chapter of the party working on instructions and directives from governor Udom Emmanuel, who is the leader of the party in Akwa Ibom had disqualified some aspirants to the various elective offices, last week, against the extant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

Amongst some of the aspirants disqualified was the former Chief of Staff, Ephraim Inyangeyen, National Assembly member Emmanuel Ukpong Udo, David Lawrence, Akpadiaha Ebitu among others.

Section 84 (3) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended states clearly that: “A political party shall not impose nomination qualification or disqualification criteria, measures, or conditions on any aspirant or candidate for any election in its constitution, guidelines, or rules for nomination of candidates for elections…”

Consequently, after careful consideration of reports of the Appeal Panel, the NWC cleared all the victimised aspirants in line with the electoral act, it was learned.

Feelers from sources at Wadata Plaza, the national office of PDP, indicate that Udom who has practically relocated to Abuja with the intent to influence the decision of the party leadership is seemingly not having his way.

It was gathered also that the NWC was particularly miffed by what it considered a ridiculous requirement of a receipt for age declaration in the case of a certain aspirant from the state.

The first sign of Udom’s failure at inducing the national party’s decision, according to our source, was when the national working committee (NWC) shifted the congress meant to produce House of Assembly candidates from Saturday, April 7, 2022, to April 18, 2022.

Another source who is a strong member of the NWC explained that unknown to governor Emmanuel, some members hold him in bad light following the realisation that he was the one who sponsored Mr Uche Secondus’ court case against the party.

Although the governor keeps reminding PDP that he is one of the few governors with deep purses to fund the party, it was learned that many NWC members argued that, it would be unreasonable to toy with the party’s chances in the next election by allowing injustice and imposition of unpopular candidates.

The panel, it was gathered, after listening to various complaints accompanied with convincing evidence from some aggrieved aspirants, strongly recommended an upturn of the state party’s decision not to clear some of the aspirants.

The governor is said to have allegedly left Uyo on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, with over ten big bags of Ghana must go suspected to contain money meant for bribing Party officials and said to have been seen with the liaison officer at Akwa Ibom Government House in Abuja.

The Senator Iyorcha Ayu-led NWC of the Peoples Democratic Party is said to have been very resolute on the issues of justice, equity, and fair play.

Political observers in the state are optimistic that from the determination of the NWC to maintain its integrity, justice will also be done full circle on the ad hoc delegates’ election, which also attracted so much rancour, discontent, complaints, protests, and petitions.