PDP Ibiono Ibom: The lingering controversy which characterized the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congress in Ibiono Ibom local government area appears to be over following the emergence of Hon. Paulicarp Ekopimo as the party’s candidate for the October 2020 local government elections in the state.

Ekopimo is the councilor representing Ward 5 (Ibiono Southern) in the local government legislature.

Two candidates were earlier produced by different factions in the area from the August 24, 2020 congress of the party which held across the 31 local government areas of the state.

The current chairman of the council, Hon. Ekomobong Akpan and his vice, Engr. Dominic Udoatan were nominated in controversial circumstance by the opposing factions who engaged in a fierce battle to have the upper hand.

Less than 24 hours later, 173 out of a total 287 delegates across 13 wards in the local government had in a letter to the party affirmed the choice of Dominic Udoatan as the duly elected candidate of the party for Ibiono Ibom local government area.

The letter which was dated August 24, 2020 and addressed to the chairman Peoples Democratic Party, Akwa Ibom State, was signed by statutory and adhoc delegates as well as state officers of the party from the area including the commissioner of Information and Strategy, Barr. Ini Ememobong.

Part of the letter, which was sighted by our correspondent read: “We, the undersigned delegates write to affirm the mandate freely given to Rt. Hon. (Engr.) Dominic Udoatan as the chairmanship candidate of our party during the Local Government Congress…”.

According to findings, the affirmation letter became necessary following a controversial announcement by a faction of the party in the area allegedly led by Sen. Bassey Albert, which claimed to have given the party’s ticket to the sitting council chairman, Hon. Ekomobong Akpan through a consensus.

It was gathered that Senator Bassey Albert who was backing the council chairman amassed every arsenal within reach to get the job done. Senator Albert who represents Uyo senatorial district is said to have reached out to the national chairman of the party to impress on the state governor to leave the council chairmanship of his local government for him.

The senator, it was also learnt, was pushing on the leadership of the party in the state to decline the nomination of the vice chairman as the candidate of the party.

It was gathered that the decision to nominate Hon. Paulicarp Ekopimo to fly the party’s ticket in the coming polls was in honour of the senator who is believed to have a towering influence and impeccable contributions in the party.

Our correspondent also gathered on good authority that when the matter got to His Excellency’s table for intervention, the governor rather asked the two contenders to step aside, while the senator was given the privilege to nominate a candidate.

Speaking on the resolution of the crisis, a member of Senator Albert’s camp said; “we thank the governor for his peaceful intervention; and for bringing a neutral person.

“It also shows that the senator’s contributions to the progress of the party in the chapter and the state in general is overwhelmingly acknowledged and appropriately compensated”.

However, uneasy calm reigned on the other camp following the emergence of a neutral candidate. One of the supporters on the camp of the vice chairman who also preferred not to be named said, “we are not worried about the decision”, and refused to go further.

Asked whether they feel hurt considering the fact that the candidate emerged from the senator’s camp, he only said, “the party belongs to all of us”.

Senator Albert also declined to comment on the development when he spoke to one of our correspondents on the phone.

Emmanuel Ndon