Akwa Ibom State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Paul Ekpo is embroiled in a two Million Naira bribery scandal which he allegedly collected for the endorsement of the former Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah as the sole candidate for the Abak Federal Constituency seat in 2019.

Ekpo is said to have performed the endorsement when he raised Umanah’s hand at the mega rally organized for the Governor, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel and his wife Martha by the Youths of Abak Five after collecting Two Million Naira advanced payment from the former Commissioner.

According to sources at the venue, the PDP Chairman carefully used the arrival of the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio to the event to carry out their already prepared script of endorsing Umanah to the detriment of other aspirants especially those from the Abak extraction.

The source added that Ekpo and Umanah together with the National Legal Adviser, Barrister Emmanuel Enoidem marched towards Senator Akpabio under the pretext of going to welcome him and at a signal, his paid supporters acknowledged them as they were directed to do and the Chairman who stood in between Senator Akpabio and Aniekan Umanah raised their hands to the cheering ignorant crowd.

Unknown to Governor Udom and Senator Akpabio, Pictures of the already plotted scheming immediately flooded the social media with prepared scripts of the endorsement by the media team of the former Commissioner.

The purported endorsement has sparked off criticism from PDP stakeholders especially in Abak where more than three people have indicated interest to contest the primary election. Some of them who spoke under conditions of anonymity accused the Party Chairman of trying to foist a candidate on the people through the backdoor.

They explained that it was wrong for the Chairman to use the occasion of the reception of the governor and his wife by the youths to carry out their evil plan while also taking advantage of the presence of Senator Akpabio to perfect their illegality. “We know that Senator Akpabio was not part of the endorsement plot.
They took advantage of his presence and his popularity to carry out their evil act. One thing that Paul Ekpo should know is that the era of impunity was over. It would no longer be business as usual if he wants to play such game. If his lifestyle is to sell his conscience, Abak people would not accept such thing. If Aniekan Umanah knows that he has the capacity to win the ticket, let him not try to get it through the backdoor as he has been doing. First, he plotted the idea of zoning with Barrister Enoidem and since the kite is not flying, he wants to use Paul Ekpo to secure the ticket illegally. It would never happen. We are ready for them this time around, “they said.

One of the aspirants, Barrister Patrick Udomfang in his reaction on his Facebook page condemned Mr. Umanah and his supporters for taking advantage of the situation to score what he described as cheap political point. “It is unfortunate that our brother Aniekan Umana, one of the aspirants for the House of Representatives catched in on this involuntary action of the State Chairman for a cheap popularity on Facebook and social media. This is mischievous. I humbly urge everybody and all supporters of other aspirants, Barr. Udomfang, Friday Iwok and Emmanuel Ekon to disregard that hand lifting on Friday at Abak Stadium as the intention of Hon. Paul Ekpo was never endorsement of any aspirant. Take note that the era of impunity is gone in PDP as there is going to be a credible party primaries in Abak Federal Constituency this time. Ignore politics on Facebook,” Udomfang said.

Effort to reach Mr. Paul Ekpo for his response to the two million naira bribery allegation was unsuccessful as all his phone lines were down but a stalwart of the party promised to get the message across to him for his reaction.

....

Pls what is d news here

Wont u pay for endorsement before?? Hian

Pdp in akwa ibom will never repent. Thats why it will be tough for them 2019