Protests have broken out in Akwa Ibom State over the supposed imposition of unpopular candidates on the faithful by the hierarchy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as complaints have it that the selection process of aspirants to fly the flag of the ruling PDP in the state has been dogged by alleged underhand dealings, fetish oath-taking, among other dubious means.

Youth from Mbo and Urue Offong/Oruko local government areas of the state have expressed their disapproval over the imposition of Chairmanship candidates on them as they call to question the rationale for picking the incumbent chairman, Asukwo Eyo for a second term knowing that his records in the first term are not clean. Their counterparts in Urue Offng/Oruko have also faulted the imposition of Mrs. Precious Selong as the consensus Chairmanship candidate on the people, instead of Colonel Sampson Edet (rtd), who is their chosen candidate.

A youth leader, Ben Okung, who is a former Akwa Ibom House of Assembly aspirant under the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), said the wrong selection of aspirant may hinder the progress and popularity of the PDP in the council area. He noted that he returned to the PDP to ensure qualified persons were given the mantle of leadership, adding that the choice of Mrs. Selong as a consensus candidate was unaccepted. In his words:

“The entire youths and concerned elders of Urueoffong Oruko came out to express their minds through a peaceful protest informing the PDP leadership in the state and their listening Governor that they don’t want Mrs Precious Selong as their chairperson.

“We are calling on our Governor who is the leader of the party to provide a level playing ground for all aspirants and their choice candidate, Colonel Sampson Edet (rtd) so that the people of the local government can be vindicated if their choice does not leave up to expectations.

Party loyalist, Mr. Emmanuel Okon who also spoke on the development frowned at the alleged removal of Colonel Sampson on the list of cleared aspirants by the party saying that it was very disappointing and shameful of Mrs. Selong as Vice Chairperson and Transition Chairperson of the local government for three years respectively not to be able to point to a single project achieved.

Another PDP loyalist in the council area, Elder Ante Ante said that since the creation of the local government area in 1991 to date, they have nothing to show for the long existence of the local government. And he recalled that local government creation was done to transform rural communities to urban and semi-urban cities and not for personal investment.

Ante, however, has appealed to Governor Udom Emmanuel, to listen to their plea by allowing all aspirants test their popularity at the LG Chairmanship elections primaries slated for August 24, 2020, as he said:

 “For the long years of existence, we have had local government chairmen both elected and appointed and none of them have been able to move the local government to its expected height.”

However, the Publicity Secretary of the party, Borono Bassey absolved the party of any wrongdoing as he said that it adopted internal democracy in screening the aspirants.