CRISIS ROCKS WARD 4, ITU LGA, AS AKAN OKON STALLS COUNCILLORSHIP PRIMARIES {VIDEO}

CRISIS ROCKS WARD 4, ITU LGA, AS AKAN OKON STALLS COUNCILLORSHIP PRIMARIES 

... Stakeholders insist result must be upheld 

.... Set to petition  party



The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primaries to select a candidate for the party in the upcoming Local Government Elections in East Itam 2 Ward 4, Itu Local Government Area, ended in crisis as some miscreants alleged to be working for the state Commissioner for, Housing, Urban Renewal and Special Duties , Mr Akan Okon, disrupted the process when it was apparent his protege lost the nomination. 


The primaries which was conducted at Saint Benedict Primary School, Akon Itam, was initially peaceful and fair. Trouble however started when the Returning offcer, Mr John Sampson Emmanuel was unilaterally, but illegally prevented from further announcing the result of the primaries by the Ward Chairman, Elder Ifreke ikotidem, once it was clear that, Mr Ime Victor Etim, the candidate sponsored by Mr Akan okon, who polled 181 votes was set to lose the nomination, as his opponent, Mr Iboro Edet Udoh, as at the Last count, before the exercise was disrupted had recorded 199 votes.

Our correspondent who monitored the primaries observed that, the State Assistant Financial Secretary of PDP, who hails from the ward and working with Akan Okon gave tacit support for the announcement of the results to be suspended causing protest by the delegates who insisted, the result must be updated, announced and upheld. 

When queried on the modalities of the conduct of the primaries, the Returning officer said, Mr Akan Okon had taken possession of the original result sheet, lamenting that his hands were tied. 

The over eight policemen who were at the venue watched helpless as the commotion that followed the sudden stopping of the announcement of the winner nearly degenerated to violence. 

It will be recalled that, some online media had raised alarm over Mr Akan Okon and Effiong Ebong’s plot to impose a Councillor on Ward 4 

As at the time of filing this report, it was unclear what the fate of the supposed winner,  Mr iboro Udoh, who had already outscored his 

Opponent by eight votes before the counting was abruptly discontinued will be appraised by nor the status of the said exercise. 

However, stakeholders who spoke with newsmen decried what they said, is the overbearing excesses of Mr Akan Okon and his cohorts, who are bent on installing an unpopular aspirant as the Councillorship candidate in the ward against the openly canvassed position of Governor Udom Emmanuel and the party, that, popular candidates who win on ground will not be shortchanged and that imposition will no longer be tolerated. 

A one time Deputy Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Barrister Grace Edim Inyang, in her reaction to the development, condemned in strong terms any attempt by anybody who has no matter how highly placed to truncate or trample upon the wishes of the people. She called on the party to call the Returning officer to order and direct him to immediately release the full and authentic result and accordingly declare the winner for peace to reign. 

Also speaking of Elder John Eton said the people of the ward will vehemently resist any attempt to impose a loser on the ward and charged those orchestrating the charade to have a rethink. 

Every attempt to speak with Mr Akan Okon who left the venue with Hon. Ebong as the commotion started proved abortive. 

Meanwhile, videos have emerged of the protest that greeted the stoppage of the announcement of results in the primaries.