2023 GUBER: AKWA IBOM ELECTORATE ASK OBA TO MOVE TO ANOTHER PARTY
By Bassey Samuel Jnr.
Some Akwa Ibom electorate have thrown their weight behind Senator Bassey Albert Akpan popularly known as OBA, urging him to pursue his gubernatorial ambition in another political platform, following PDP’s recent impunity, intrigues and injustice against some members.
It should be recalled that OBA, along with over 100 other aspirants to other political officers boycotted the PDP primaries, owing to what they described as skewed and manipulated ad hoc election processes to favour the governor’s preferred aspirant.
However, in a sampled interview recently, some electorate, still smarting from the disappointment, told our reporter that election this time will be about individual known for their pedigrees, experience and capacity.
According to one of them, Mrs Victoria Amos, who is a strong women mobiliser from Etebi in Esit Eket, “no matter the political party upon which OBA is standing election on the INEC ballot, he will record landslide victory across the 31 local government areas of Akwa lbom state”.
She argued that the PDP seems to be heading for the rocks with its mentality that no matter what it does, the people have no option but to stay. “It may not work this time”, she added.
Another person, who runs a group known as Voters’ Rights Advocate (ARV), Mr Steven Ekpo, argued that “PDP’s impunty has given rise to the growth of some hitherto unknown parties in the state”.
He however sees this as a positive development which has given the voters a choice, away from the hitherto experience where PDP dominated the political consciousness of the people.
“Within a few months, the rise in political awareness in the State has been amazing because many voters feel dissatisfied with the former situation. They also feel disenfranchised by recent actions of PDP leaders in the State. Take for instance what happened during the adhoc delegates election and the way statutory delegates were ignored in favour of a few selected members of MPM”, he added.
Ekpo cited some of hitherto unpopular larties to include Accord, Labour and YPP, adding: “ YPP (Young Progressives Party) appears the darling of the people at the moment with its slogan of ‘service to the people’”.
Ekpo also observed that the party’s threat to unleash a “BALLOT REVOLUTION” on Akwa Ibom has started unsettling the PDP already.
Another political watcher, Effiong Akpan, submitted that while PDP and it’s candidates are busy swimming in on controversy after another, the younger parties are busy consolidating on membership and its preparedness towards the upcoming general election.
Akpan, who is a youth mobiliser in Nsit Atai, said the younger parties, particularly YPP, “have put in place all the necessary strategies with sophistocated structures on ground aimed at winning most of the offices. It will be a shocker of the century for PDP”, he opined.
Similarly, a chieftain of YPP, Ekomobong Matthew, confirmed his party’s readiness to impressive showing in the next election in Akwa Ibom state.
He promised to unveil their programmes soon, in line with the INEC guidelines for the elections.
While urging the electorate to embrace YPP as an alternative platform to actualise their fream of all-round effective service, Matthew said as a law abiding party, they will do everything in strict adherence to the provisions of the electoral Act as amended.
He noted that already, the young party is emerging as a threat to PDP and APC, who had long held sway as the ones with the largest followings.
In a related development, some Akwa lbom youths recently marched to OBA’s residence to show solidarity and to urge him to move his membership to another party to actualise serving Akwa Ibom people.
According to them, “OBA is the only one we consider as our preferred candidate; he is the one we have hope in for a better Akwa Ibom based on his records of selfless service to the masses over the years.”
The youths insisted that 2023 election in the State will not be business as usual, urging the electorate to obtain their permanent voter’s cards (PVCs) so that they can express their anger through votes for candidates of their choice.
The group also marched to the home of some leaders of Akwaubok Abasi Campaign Organization, changing them to advise OBA make the decisive move, and reaffirmed their loyalty and support to the expected new development.
“We charge the campaign organization to persuade Sen OBA to make public pronouncement soonest to clear doubts in the minds of his (OBA’s) teeming supporters”, they added.
They also said they were happy with the preparations the organization is making and urged it to do more on voter education to prevent apathy on election day, adding that, as youths of the State they are fully prepared for the 2023 general elections. They however insisted that their votes must count this time.
As days go by, some political pundits are of the opinion that all hope for a better Akwa Ibom hang on OBA and that people are ready and eager to follow him wherever he goes.
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