Akwa Ibom: Gov Emmanuel chasing third time period via surrogate – YPP

The Younger Progressives Social gathering, Akwa Ibom State chapter has suggested the governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel to channel his power in direction of offering good governance for the few months earlier than his exit from workplace than utilizing the state sources to put in a successor who they described as a surrogate for his third time period.

In a press convention on the social gathering’s secretariat on Saturday, the state chairman of the social gathering, Apostle Nyeneime Andy alleged that electoral freedom and truthful play is underneath ‘nice risk’ within the State claiming that governor Udom Emmanuel-led administration has set in movement a course of to pervert democracy within the State.

He mentioned YPP can’t be canvassing for votes legitimately from the individuals, whereas the state authorities is reportedly plotting to control the elections.

Buttressing his claims, the YPP chairman mentioned the governor used the state funds to buy 31 Hiace buses which price over N1.24billion for the campaigns of the governorship candidate of the peoples Democratic Social gathering, PDP Pastor Umo Eno who’s his most popular candidate.

He mentioned that the governor throughout his social gathering’s get collectively at Atan Offot, Uyo, introduced the engagement of 70 brokers in every polling models throughout the 31 Native Authorities Areas of the State on a month-to-month stipend of N100,000 to every including that with the 4,354 polling models within the state, the associated fee implication of hiring these brokers is N91,334 billion,(January – March).

The Chairman questioned why the governor who claimed that the state doesn’t have funds may spend such an enormous quantity on frivolities fairly than utilizing it to offset the pensions and gratuity arrears owed subsequent of kin of retired late main college lecturers and different public servants within the state.

Andy mentioned the governor ought to have additionally channeled the monies into the completion of “a number of uncompleted street works and different deserted infrastructures in want of funding” within the state.

A part of the assertion learn, “Governor Udom Emmanuel-led administration has set in movement a course of to pervert democracy in Akwa Ibom State –all in a bid to foist his stooge, Pastor Umo Eno on the individuals.

“We name on the administration to focus on offering good governance for the interval left in energy fairly than chasing an illusory third time period via the imposition of Pastor Umoh Eno.

“We will recall the Governor’s well-known assertion made on August 24, 2020, which was extensively printed as follows: “I’m not like different former Governors.

“I’ll by no means go for a 3rd time period via surrogacy. I’m not interested by who succeeds me as the subsequent Governor of Akwa Ibom State. When my tenure involves an finish, I’ll depart the Authorities Home with simply my Laptop computer.”

The YPP Chairman additionally mentioned the social gathering via intelligence found that PDP has engaged in shopping for of Everlasting Voters Playing cards (PVCs) and acquiring of VIN numbers from unsuspecting members of the general public throughout the 31 Native Authorities Areas with intent to rig the elections at the same time as he urged the safety businesses and INEC nationwide to research the matter.

He additionally accused INEC officers on the native authorities of colluding with the state authorities to interact in sharp practices in the course of the elections regardless that he expressed hope that with the assurances given by the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu that with the providers of Bimodal Voter Registration Methods (BVAS), there shall be no manipulation.

Nevertheless, in a swift response, the Publicity Secretary of the state PDP, Mr Borono Bassey mentioned YPP was simply in a wailing rehearsal of impending defeat by March this 12 months.

Bassey mentioned YPP Chairman’s allegation that the state authorities needed to rig election by shopping for PVCs confirmed his excessive degree of ignorance on the know-how that may drive the 2023 election, as BVAs which might be deployed will mix fingerprint and face biometrics for id verification of voters which robotically makes shopping for of PVCs completely ineffective.

He additionally described as false that marketing campaign buses had been purchased with state funds saying that the autos had been procured with sources from dues and goodwill donations by PDP members

Bassey added “Once more, one other lie peddled by the State Chairman of YPP on the Press Convention to the impact that the Akwa Ibom State Authorities was planning to pay 70 polling brokers in every polling unit throughout the State falls flat on its face given the truth that Governor Udom Emmanuel clearly understands that there’s an anti-graft company that may spot and prosecute him for misappropriation of state sources if he makes an attempt to interact in such an act.”