As the new ward executives of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State take over the reins across the 368 wards, Governor Umo Eno, has warned he will not tolerate any diabolic oath on people to attract loyalty other than the established oath of allegiance using the Christian Holy Book, the Bible.
The political system of the state has been entangled in fetish practices, with political leaders and godfathers deploying traditional oaths to extract loyalty from those they recommended for political positions.
But the governor, the founder and presiding pastor of his Church, vowed to abolish such an evil regime in his dispensation.
“We are forming a new structure for our party, and let me warn the new executives and members against any diabolic oath of allegiance to any person rather than the oath of office to serve the party,” he stressed.
Although the ward congresses held across the 31 LGAs were generally hitch-free because of the consensus strategy adopted by the ruling party, Governor Eno; his immediate predecessor, Udom Emmanuel, the party chairman, Elder Aniekan Akpan, and others have applauded the peaceful outcome.
Therefore, the governor and party leader charged those who emerged to ensure absolute loyalty and commitment to the party’s ideals as leaders at the grassroots level.
Eno gave the charge while monitoring the exercise at his Ward Centre, Ibiakpan Obotim Ward II, in Nsit Ubium LGA.
He commended members of the PDP across the state for maintaining decorum and ensuring smooth and successful conduct of the polls while charging the newly elected officers to live up to expectations in line with the confidence reposed in them by their fellow party members.
He said: “From the report we received across the state, congress went well, and all the party guidelines and principles were observed. Our party representatives from Abuja, independent observers, and INEC are around. So all the requirements were met. It’s been a very peaceful congress, and we trust God that this is how it will continue.”
The state chairman of the PDP, Elder Aniekan Akpan, corroborated the reports from returning officers in the various wards indicating that the process was very peaceful and smooth, affirming the party’s readiness to participate in and win the upcoming local government elections.
