Jonathan raises hope of G22, may pick consensus candidate By Radar Newspaper / January 2, 2015 / By Franklyn ISONG President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, last night, re-assured the aggrieved 22 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) governorship aspirants in Akwa Ibom State that he would resolve the December 8, 2014, PDP primary impasse in their favour, RADAR Online can authoritatively report. The G22’s struggle, RADAR Online gathered has received the backing of top party officials in Abuja, including the Presidency which is said not to be comfortable with the shabby and embarrassing outcome of the party’s primary in Akwa Ibom. RADAR Online can further report reliably that last night during the group’s New Year Party at the Abuja residence of the Senator representing Eket Senatorial District at the National Assembly, and a member of the G22, Senator Helen Esuene, which was attended by all of them, strong words of encouragement were sent to the group by President Jonathan, assuring that their grievances will be resolved immediately he (President) returns from his overseas’ trip. Although, no date was given, but the presidential aide informed the G22 that Mr. President was very worried over the development and what will become of the strength of the party if they defect to the opposition party in the state and has appealed that they (G22 members) should not be pushed by governor Akpabio to quit PDP as machinery has been put in place to address their complains before INEC January 13 deadline for substitution of candidates. It would be recalled that before the December 8, primaries, that the 22 aggrieved gubernatorial hopeful had petitioned the national headquarters of the ruling party, complaining of “plot to rig the poll in favour of the state governor’s preferred aspirant, Mr. Udom Emmanuel through the use of a fake delegate list.” The aspirants were to later form a formidable group known as: Forum of Akwa Ibom Governorship Aspirants (aka G22) to resist what they called “Akpabio’s tenure elongation by imposition”. On December 8, day of the party’s primaries at the new Ibom International Stadium, Uyo, the G22 group staged a walk out on the exercise, alleging that the delegate list that would be used for it was a fake one, which was not approved by the national headquarters of the party. However, the exercise went on and was to later produce Mr. Udom Emmanuel. But, unrelenting, the G22 group re-strategised and appointed a former deputy governor, Obong Nsima Ekere as chairman and a former commissioner for Rural Development, Barr. Effiong Abia as its secretary. They rented an office apartment in Abuja and relocated afterwards to Abuja since December 9, 2014, with intention to stop Governor Godwsill Akpabio’s anointed candidate, Mr. Udom Emmanuel from flying the party’s flag in the February 14, 2015, poll. Akwa Ibom people are still waiting to see who will finally emerge as the PDP flag bearer after January 13.
Posted on: Fri, 02 Jan 2015 15:42:17 +0000
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