A nongovernmental leadership and governance initiative Foundation, has vehemently reacted on the alarming rate by which the speaker of the Akwa Ibom state house of assembly Mr. Udeme Otong is intentionally imposing councilorship candidates in Abak LGA
The group sighted instance in Otoro ward 1 where the speaker Mr. Udeme Otong allegedly imposed one Mrs. Uduak Innocent formerly known as Uduak Nelson who was legally married out of the community years ago, as councilorship candidate from Ikot oku mfang in Otoro ward 1, Abak LGA.
The group, in a statement on Monday said the imposition of Mrs. Uduak innocent led to the exclusion of other aspirants thus depriving Ikot oku mfang people of their franchise and benefit of a robust engagement in selecting their choice of councilorship candidate.
The group said, “We perceived that the gale of defection is going to sweep PDP after the local government elections as a result of irregularities, marginalisation and victimizing party faithful who have been denied their legitimate right to participate in primaries free from manipulation, imposition, harassment and intimidation by the speaker of the state assembly Mr. Otong.
“It is particularly irksome that some aspirants of whom perhaps had to sell their belongings to be able to purchase nomination and expression of intent forms are not given justification, but the speaker and the leadership of PDP Abak LGA, failed to provide the aspirants with the required level-playing field to test their popularity.
” The last time that councilorship Camero Ikot oku mfang community it was a woman that emerged, why shouldn’t be equal rights in the gender rotation of councilorship position in Ikot oku mfang community.
Besides, even the lady that Mr. speaker is imposing on us in Ikot oku mfang has been legally married out years ago and she does not exercise her franchise in our unit. Again, as we speak we still have a woman in transition committee of Abak local government council and now another woman is to be imposed on us again, where did we wrong Mr. Speaker”
We are not against our women occupying elected positions and even appointment, but let our young men too be given equal opportunity.
Uduak has been married out to edemawan village in Afahaobong ward 1, even though she has lost her husband that is enough reason she should be considered in Afahaobong ward 2 to represent the ward as a councilor.
We use this medium to called on the state governor his Excellency pastor Umoh Eno the state party chairman Elder Aniekan Akpan and other leaders on the stand of fairness and equity to come to our aids.
We will not fold our arms and watch the speaker imposed a woman that has been married out on us as a councilor”