2023: PDP intact in Mkpat Enin - stakeholders

Aniedi Ukoenang

Ahead of 2023 general elections,  political stakeholders and bigwigs in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area yesterday held a strategic meeting

aimed at taking stock and preparing for the task of ensuring the victory of all candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the upcoming polls.

The meeting which was hosted by the Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Professor Eno Ibanga, evidently resulted in the realization that indeed no other party exists in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, as a stock taking exercise carried out at the meeting indicated that the remnants of APC structure across Mkpat Enin LGA had defected to PDP recently, and that other opposition parties are non-existent in the area. 

Professor Eno Ibanga who set the tone for the gathering spoke highly of the gains of Mkpat Enin people under PDP since 1999, especially under the current administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel.

He charged all attendees, whom he described as party stakeholders and influencers, to be ready to work for the success of the party in their various units.

In his words, “the reason other people are running around is because they do not have established structures, and that is why they run around the whole place looking for members. PDP as a party is rooted, we have people who have benefitted immensely from this party and who are stakeholders of the party in their domain, I have no doubts that they would never want to disappoint themselves nor the party”. 

Also speaking, Rt. Hon. Uduak Odudoh who was in the meeting on the invitation of the host applauded Mkpat Enin stakeholders for their steadfastness and commitment to the party. He pledged to represent the area effectively when he is voted to the green Chambers of the National Assembly in Abuja. 

All other speakers, including the Chapter Chairman, Hon. Anietie Sunday, the State Financial Secretary of the Party, Hon. Mfon Nkanteen, SSA to the Governor on Power/MD Ibom Power Company, Engr Meyen Etukudo, Hon. Ephraim Akpan, Prof. Etete Peters, Dr. Sydney Udofot, and Mrs. Idara Ephraim Akpan who spoke on behalf of the women, and Rt. Hon. Emem Alex who spoke on behalf 9f the youth, all applauded the host for fostering togetherness in the party, they pledged to work hard in their domain to ensure that PDP wins in the upcoming polls. While Chief Cyril Umoren conveyed the support and cooperation of all the State House of Assembly to put behind them the issues of primary Election and support the candidate of the party, Hon. Uwem Imoh-Ita.

Notably, Dr. Sydney Udofot who spoke on behalf of Ikpa Ibom clan said “I think I am the oldest person in this gathering. I want to say that after the PDP Government had located coconut plantation in Mkpat Enin, St. Gabriel coconut oil refinery, Ekim power substation, Akwa Ibom State University, and many vital appointments in government, I cannot watch PDP loss Election in my ward, not in my lifetime”. He pledged.

A resolution of the meeting read by the Chapter Secretary of PDP in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, Prince Nseobong Essien Esq, indicates that “after taking stock, we want to announce that all the 18 chapter executive members of PDP in Mkpat Enin are intact in the party.

“The party has seventeen ward executive members in each of the fifteen wards, totalling two hundred and fifty five (255). Out of that number, the party has lost only four ward executives. That is very insignificant.

“The party is also happy to announce that  our Executive Chairman of Council, Vice Chairman, Secretary, all the councillors, the supervisors are all intact in PDP.

Also, the youth structure in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area is also intact in PDP beginning from the National Youth Council Chairman, the Chairman of Youth Caucus, Christian Youth, Dakkada youth and even the Youth Presidents of the four clans in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area are all in PDP.

“We have agreed that the Youth Presidents of the eighty seven (87) villages in Mkpat Enin LGA are in PDP as we speak.

We also have board Chairmen, board members, all are PDP members. We have former chapter chairmen, we have critical stakeholders, all intact in PDP”.

Prince Essien concluded by reading the resolution of the meeting, saying “however, we have passed a resolution to support His Excellency Dr. Atiku Abubakar for President, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, our inlaw for Governor, Barr. Ekong Sampson for Senate- Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, Rt. Hon. Uduak Odudoh for Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin and Eastern Obolo Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, and Hon. Uwem Imoh-Ita to represent Mkpat Enin State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly come 2023”. 

He opined that “the party hierarchy and stakeholders have agreed all these because the PDP has been fair to Mkpat Enin and we have enjoyed progress under the reigns of PDP in the last 22years. Those are our resolutions”. 

High point of the meeting was the formal voicing of a call for the general house to adopt the resolution of the meeting as read by the secretary of the party. 

The call was raised by Hon. Ebong Akpan, leader of Mkpat Enin Legislative Council, and the whole house chorused Aye to the resolution, there were no nays.