Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in OrukAnam ward 1, Akwa Ibom state have said that zoning must be respected in the ward and every attempt to impose any candidate by the Paramount Ruler of the area Akuku Johnson Obosi will be resisted ahead of the October local government election in the state.
The stakeholders kicked against plans by a royal father to impose his son now the incumbent ward chairman to emerge as the councillor not minding the fact that the zoning arrangement does not favour such political permutation.
The party chieftains therefore resolved to abide by the zoning plans by the state governor pastor Umo Eno who had earlier warned that zoning will be followed strictly during party nomination of chairmen and Councillors across the 31 local government areas in the state.
Speaking during the stakeholders meeting at the weekend, one of the Elders in the area and former Board Chairman of Akwa Savings and Loans Ltd Elder Uduak Ewitat said zoning of councillor positions must be maintained for peace to reigh i. the community.
He said out of 8 villages in Inen bloc of ward one, 2 villages have benefitted from 1983 -2024 through elections and appointments leaving six villages with nothing.
He said Inen Ikot Ndoh and Inen Ikot Eteye were the beneficiaries by electing their son’s as House of Assembly member in 1983, two time councillors, Supervisors and presently member of the Transition Committee in the council while the remaining villages were left with nothing.
” Villages that have never produced political office holders are Inen Ekeffe, Ikot Offiong , Etuk Inen , Nto Udo Akpan, Ikot Offiong and Ikot Ekon.
” Everybody must abide by the instructions of His Excellency that zoning must be respected during the party primaries. Those villages that have not produced political office holders will be allowed to participate in PDP primaries.
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” Those who have been there either by election or appointment should not participate in the October local government election “.
He frowned at a situation where one village Inen Ikot Ndoh carried every in the past years and still wants to grab again in the fourth coming elections using traditional influence to suppress others.
“1983 – House of Assembly – M. P Etuk,1988 – Councilor – Rt.Hon Ezekiel Obosi, 1995 – Supervisor for Health – Johnson Obosi, 1999 – councilor – RT Hon Ezekiel Obosi,2012 – Vice Chairman, Oruk Anam – Juliana Ekuriku, 2012 – Councilor – Ekarikpong Udofia, 2015-Supervisor for Agriculture – Jobson Ekuriku , 2020 – Ward chairman – Edidem Obosi-2020 and ward Vice Chairman – Aniekan Obosi”.
He said nobody from another unit has occupied any political position from Inen except unit 06 – Inen Ikot Ndoh.
He therefore warned all influential persons in the community to give peace a chance by giving opportunity to those who have not tasted power to occupy positions for peace justice ,equity and fair play.
