PDP Candidate’s Congratulatory Message Calms Tensions in Akpabio’s LG
The recent local government election in Essien Udim, Akwa Ibom State, stirred significant political tension after the announcement of results, particularly due to discrepancies between results reported by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ntiedo Usoro of the APC was declared the winner of the October 5th election, despite earlier allegations that the PDP candidate, Enobong Patrick Friday, had won.
The Essence of Essien Udim
Essien Udim is the local government area of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, an influential APC figure. Early reports suggested that the PDP candidate received 55,612 votes, while Ntiedo Usoro garnered only 686. However, the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) later declared the APC candidate as the winner, stating that Usoro polled 51,751 votes, while the PDP candidate received 22,799 votes.
AKISIEC’s Official Stance
The AKISIEC Chairman, Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak, clarified that the earlier announcement of a PDP victory was false. He dissociated himself from the purported declaration by a Professor Inyang Ating, explaining that the real Returning Officer for the election was Professor Uduak Okon of the Medical Sciences Department, who had submitted the correct results. Ikoiwak labeled the announcement by Ating as a staged drama, calling it fake and orchestrated to confuse the public.
Political Palliative?
Critics, especially from PDP circles, accused the state government of manipulating the election to maintain a cordial relationship with Senator Akpabio, describing the situation as a “political palliative” to appease the Senate President. They suggested that the APC victory in Akpabio’s local government was a concession to maintain federal presence and influence in the state, hinting at possible political arrangements behind the scenes.
Pressure on PDP Candidate
Initially, the PDP candidate, Enobong Patrick Friday, remained silent following the controversial announcement. It was later revealed that pressure was applied to him to accept defeat. In response, he issued a public congratulatory message to his APC opponent, Ntiedo Usoro, which has helped calm the political atmosphere in the state. In his message, Friday expressed his loyalty to the newly sworn-in chairman and pledged his support for the success of his administration.
Dousing the Tension
Friday’s congratulatory message effectively eased the tension that had built up after the election results were announced. His message read, “On behalf of my family, the EnoAbasi Campaign Organisation and the PDP in Essien Udim LGA, I write to congratulate you on your swearing-in by the governor of the state, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, as the Executive Chairman of Essien Udim. Election is over; this is the time of governance, and I pledge my support, loyalty, and solidarity for the success of your administration.”
PDP’s Reaction
Despite the calming effect of Friday’s message, some members of the PDP remained unhappy with the outcome. A chieftain of the party, who chose to remain anonymous, criticized the development as a conspiracy to undermine the will of the people. He expressed frustration over the fact that the APC victory was likely arranged to preserve political alliances and maintain control over the local government area.
The Broader Implications
The situation in Essien Udim has raised broader concerns about the influence of state governments over local elections. Critics argue that the governor’s control over the electoral process enables the manipulation of results, which contradicts the wishes of the electorate. They call for reforms to ensure that local elections are free and fair, preventing the kind of political interference alleged in this case.
Conclusion
The controversies surrounding the Essien Udim local government election have gradually subsided, thanks in part to the conciliatory approach taken by the PDP candidate. However, the election has exposed underlying issues of political maneuvering and control, with many questioning the integrity of local elections in Akwa Ibom and other states across Nigeria.
Social Media Reactions:
- Tunde Obiora: “Looks like PDP’s Enobong Patrick Friday decided to play it safe with his congratulatory message. Politics is always tricky!”
- Adeola Johnson: “I don’t know if I would be this calm after being allegedly robbed of a win. Enobong’s message is surprising!”
- Fatimah Suleiman: “These local government elections always have a twist. Can we ever have a clean, fair vote?”
- Kola Adebayo: “Akwa Ibom politics is heating up. Did Friday really congratulate his opponent under pressure?”
- Ngozi Chinedu: “What happened to the 55,612 votes PDP claimed? Something isn’t right here.”
- Samuel Bassey: “This isn’t about the people anymore. It’s about maintaining political friendships.”
- Chinyere Okechukwu: “How can the result change overnight? The whole thing smells like political palliatives.”
- Michael Usen: “I think Enobong Patrick is being a gentleman. His congratulatory message is probably the best move for peace.”
- Emeka Eze: “Even in local elections, political games are always at play. Is there any hope for a fair vote?”
- Boma Allison: “PDP vs APC in Akpabio’s stronghold was bound to be controversial. Let’s see how this plays out.”
- Ibrahim Yusuf: “The alleged pressure on Friday to concede defeat shows the power dynamics at play.”
- Grace Udo: “Local politics is more complicated than it seems. Akpabio’s influence in his area is undeniable.”
- Funmi Dada: “This congratulatory message feels more like a peace offering. What really happened behind the scenes?”.
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