Chapter chairman of PDP in Mbo, Mr Etetim Okon Isemin, flanked by state officer of the party, Sunday Etim Okon (first from right), chairman PDP stakeholders’ forum, Chief Oscar Odoro, (2nd from right) presenting the consensus candidate, Mr Ita Effiong Okon, to members of the party.
Abasifreke Effiong -Uyo
Stakeholders and members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Mbo local government area, Akwa Ibom state, have adopted Mr Ita Effiong Okon, as consensus candidate for the local government chairmanship position in the forthcoming election.
The party stakeholders at a meeting in Oron have accordingly presented Ita Effiong Okon, to the chapter exco of the party and the state officer.
At the meeting held at Sky Point Hotel, Oron, on Tuesday 11th August, which was witnessed by the Director of SSS, Divisional Police Officer, the Head of SIB and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps in Mbo, the party stakeholders across the five communities in Mbo said Ita Effiong Okon, was favoured by zoning.
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Recall that stakeholders of the party had zoned the chairmanship position to Effiat community, an area which according to them, has not produced an elected chairman nor House of Assembly member since 1999.
Prior to the formal presentation of Ita Effiong Okon to the party, a stakeholder each from the five communities in Mbo affirmed their earlier stand, zoning the chairmanship to Effiat.
Barr Okon Inyang spoke on behalf of Uda, Hon Oscar Asuquo Afiakinyi spoke for Ebughu, Hon Aniefiok Asuquo Abang spoke for Udesi, while Mr Oscar Edet Akinninyi, spoke for Enwang.
Hon Aniefiok Asuquo Abang from Effiat who presented Mr Ita Effiong Okon to stakeholders of the party in Mbo, said Okon was unanimously chosen by the people of Effiat.
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Okon was received by the party stakeholders led by Chief Oscar Odoro and presented to the chapter chairman of the PDP in Mbo, Mr Etetim Okon Isemin, who further presented same to the state officer of the party from Mbo, Mr Sunday Okon Etim.
The consensus candidate was thereafter jointly presented to members of the party by the stakeholders and the party leadership in Mbo.
In his remark, the chapter chairman of PDP in Mbo, Mr Etetim Okon Isemin said the party has accepted the candidate in good faith.
“I have received the presentation in good faith. Why I said so is because there is nothing like second term in Mbo. Stakeholders had unanimously zoned the chairmanship to Effiat because the four other communities have produced the council chairman and State House of Assembly member, but Effiat has never produced either.”
The chairman of PDP stakeholders’ forum in Mbo, Chief Oscar Odoro, thanked the people of Effiat for selecting and presenting one person for the chairmanship position.
Odoro said stakeholders of the party will continue to abide by the agreed one term zoning arrangement for the chairmanship of Mbo for the sake of unity and peaceful coexistence of all the communities in the local government.
Speaking on behalf of the women, Mrs Sarah Obio Etim, said the women have totally aligned with the position taken by stakeholders and the choice of the consensus candidate, urging women who will be delegates in party primary to vote for Ita Effiong Okon.
A youth leader, Mr Kingsley Obo, thanked the stakeholders for agreeing on a consensus candidate, saying that the choice of Ita Effiong Okon, represents the future of the youth.
Obo noted that the choice of a consensus candidate has put paid to name – dropping and mudslinging against the person of the SSG, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, whom advocates of second term in Mbo said is behind their aspiration.
He told youths of Mbo to ignore the rumour that the SSG was supporting someone for a second, saying that the SSG has on many occasions kicked against second term in Mbo notably in the two previous House of Assembly elections in 2015 and 2019 and cannot act otherwise.
A stakeholder of the party and Deputy Director General of Divine Mandate, Chief Eyo Okon Edet, lauded the stakeholders for choosing a consensus candidate, which he said will engender unity, peace and harmony in the party and Mbo local government area.
Edet debunked rumours that he was at loggerheads with the SSG who is currently the highest political office holder from Mbo.
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He said he has a cordial relationship with the SSG whom he described as the leader of the party in Mbo, hence, he advised those who are using the name of the SSG to create confusion in Mbo to stop forthwith.
Edet used the occasion to thank Governor Udom Emmanuel, for the projects he has brought to Mbo as well as the appointment of Mbo indigenes into critical positions in his government, saying that the people of Mbo will continue to support the governor.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Ita Effiong Okon, thanked stakeholders and members of the party for choosing him, saying that he will not disappoint the people.
Okon disclosed that he has drawn up a six credit agenda which will focus on agriculture, security, community development and education.
