Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State and the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Obong Paul Ekpo, have described the ward congresses of the party, which took place all over the state on Saturday, as peaceful, orderly and a demonstration by the people of the state to ensure that democracy survives in the country.
Both spoke at different venues of the ward congresses.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after participating in the congress, Governor Akpabio said: “I commend our party members for this demonstration of peace and orderliness.
“It is a confirmation of the party’s readiness to ensure that internal democracy is entrenched in our party.”
In his reaction, Ekpo said: “The peaceful and orderly conduct of party members before, during and after the congress is a demonstration that the party is one united entity.
“Contrary to what had been peddled in the media in the last few weeks that the party was not one, the report I have received from chapter chairmen across the state is really, really encouraging and we are happy about that because our members turned out en mass to partake in the exercise, devoid of any rancour.”
Meanwhile, a frontline governorship aspirant in Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, has commended the peaceful and orderly conduct of party faithful in the exercise.
Emmanuel spoke in Qua Iboe Church Primary School, Awa Iman in Onna Local Government Area shortly after being elected as one of the three adhoc delegates from Awa Ward One.
He said Awa Ward One has set a good example for others to emulate, judging from the credible and transparent process witnessed during the exercise.
Udom, who is the immediate past Secretary to the State Government, dismissed the rumour that he was denied purchase of PDP governorship nomination form in Abuja.
Rather, he said he was one of the first aspirants from the state that bought the form.
The governorship hopeful lauded the presiding and returning officers for ensuring that the exercise was conducted in line with the directives of the party leadership, which is anchored on fairness.
On their parts, the Presiding Officer, Ekanem Udoka, and the Returning Officer, Ikpe Ezekiel, commended the party members in Awa Ward One for abiding by the stipulated guidelines, describing the congress in the area as free and fair.
At the end of the exercise,which was open balloting, Emmanuel, Ekaete Effiong and Edmung Uffang emerged as the PDP adhoc delegates from the ward.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Aniekan Umanah, has expressed satisfaction with the successful conduct of the ward congress in Abak.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after observing the event, Umanah, who is a native of the area, described PDP as the only party that promotes internal democracy, alongside the welfare of the people.
He commended the delegates for their maturity.
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