A’Ibom SSG Formally Joins PDP, Membership Back Dated

Mr. Udom Emmanuel, SSG, Akwa Ibom State

The Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, SSG, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has formally joined the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as a member.

The brief ceremony which took place at about 9 am at the Awa ward 1 headquarters of the party, Awa, in Onna Local Government Area today was shunned by government officials and prominent politicians in the state, except the Commissioner for Special Duties, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem; chairman of Essien Udim Local Government Area, Mr. Nse Ntuen, the chairman of Onna Local Government Council, Mr. Ufot Sunday Akpan and the chapter chairman, Mr Okon William.

Speaking at the guided ceremony, the ward chairman, Apostle Charles Ekwere said Mr. Emmanuel’s formal ‘‘regularization’’ of membership was a requirement by the party to hold public office.

The ward chairman said reading from a prepared speech that ‘ today’s event was a ceremonial one, a ritual which must be performed,’’ and commended Governor Godswill Akpabio.
In his comments, Mr Emmanuel, who only flashed his membership card re-echoed what the ward chairman said, which was that he came to ‘‘regularize’’ his membership of the party and announced the donation of 12 cows, huge sum of money and other gift items to the ward officers of the party.

He did not tell journalists when he joined the party and his number on the party card. Sensing that journalists would swoop on him with questions after the event, his security details guided him into his car without the usual question and answer session with newsmen.
When journalists approached the ward chairman to supply more information regarding the membership of Mr. Emmanuel, such as membership number on his card, he declined.

Speaking with journalists on condition of anonymity, a chieftain of the party in the ward said that the truth of the matter is that the event is part of the calculation by those packaging Mr. Emmanuel’s governorship aspiration, the same way they packaged and promoted the governorship aspiration of erstwhile SSG, Mr. Umana Okon Umana and dumped him after he was sack by Governor Akpabio.

‘‘These characters packaging and promoting Mr. Emmanuel’s governorship aspiration today were the same people who told the whole world that Obong Umana Okon Umana will be the next governor of Akwa Ibom. After Obong Umana was sacked, they deserted him and are telling Mr. Emmanuel that he is the person to succeed Governor Akpabio.
‘‘ I want to advise Mr. Emmanuel to be careful with them. Enoidem, Ntuen and others have now found a new pawn in the political chase game to use to preserve themselves in power.

‘‘ The whole event is charade. The SSG has never been a member of PDP before today. They think they can fool everybody by back dating Mr. Emmanuel’s party card. He has been working and residing in Lagos all his life, when did he come and join the PDP in Akwa Ibom. I challenge the ward chairman to announce the year Mr. Emmanuel joined the party and his membership number, both on the party’s register and card?

It was gathered that Mr. Emmanuel’s governorship aspiration will meet stiff opposition in the provisions of the constitution of PDP, which states expressly in section 50 (9) that, ‘‘there shall be a minimum of two year membership span for a member to be eligible to stand for election into any public office, unless the appropriate executive committee gives a waiver or rules to the contrary.’’

The party also stipulates in sub-section 10 (b) that, ‘‘for members aspiring for party positions or nomination for State House of Assembly election, National Assembly, posts of Governors or Deputy Governors, President or Vice President, the deciding authority shall be the National Executive Committee,NEC, through the National Working Committee, NWC, provided that the process of clearance of the waiver starts from the ward levels.’’