The news was brief; almost a sentence. It centred on a statement by the PDP national headquarters that the governorship position in Akwa Ibom State has been zoned to Eket Senatorial District.
For those who are familiar with Akwa Ibom politics, the party’s position falls in line with the position of the governor, Godswill Akpabio, that Eket Senatorial District should produce the next governor.
But while the PDP was silent on whether anybody has been anointed for that position as alleged, it said all aspirants for that office must be from the senatorial district.
Perhaps, this means that the race is open to anybody from the senatorial district with the credentials and the resources to seek the office.
Twenty-four hours to the announcement by the PDP, political leaders from the state, led by the former governor, Victor Attah, addressed a press conference in Abuja alleging imposition of a candidate by Akpabio.
The group demanded a level-playing ground for all the aspirants and vehemently objected to alleged hand-picking of a successor by the sitting governor.
Truly, Governor Akpabio has repeatedly denied anointing anybody to take over from him in 2015. But he has never hidden his bias for emergence of the next governor from Eket; a position the PDP has endorsed.
However, the Attah-led group, comprising the big names in Akwa Ibom politics, did not ask why the next governor should come from Eket. It, however, did not suggest where such a person should come from.
The group was more interested in demanding the establishment of certain democratic structures that would ensure that the right political atmosphere is created for every aspirant, so that whoever emerges as governor will personify the collective wish of the people.
Seated with Don Etiebet and Edet Nkpubre, Attah called for the removal of the state chairman of the party whom he accused of unapologetic admission “that he is there to do the wishes of the governor”.
The press conference hall went dead with shock when Attah disclosed that the Akwa Ibom secretary of PDP is “the blood brother” of the state governor and should therefore be replaced to further ensure a level-playing field.
The belief of the political leaders is that except these and other fundamental changes are carried out, it would be difficult for other aspirants to believe the governor’s position that he has no favourite in the race.
For those of us who report and analyse politics without being active participants in political affairs, it is possible to assume that if the allegations by this group are true, there may be need for a second look at the constitution of the state party leadership.
Many unprintable and unbelievable accusations were made against Akpabio, especially when Etiebet spoke. Some sounded absurd and others were unbelievably blood-chilling. And considering the calibre of people who raised those issues, you can guess why I am so disturbed.
I am a distant observer of Akpabio. Even then, I see him as a sufficiently resourceful and smart person that will not make his exit from office less glorious than his entry. And if this must be so, then it’s time for reconciliation; now that the party has spoken.
