Joe Effiong, Uyo
The paramount ruler of Eket local government of Akwa Ibom State, HRM, Etim Charles Abia, has condemned the directive by the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, that political parties should stop campaigning even when the election has been postponed for a week.
Speaking with our correspondent on Monday in his palace in Eket, the first class monarch said Yakubu not only goofed in stopping political campaigns but also in stopping the collection of personal voter’s cards since the continuation of both exercises would have heightened political activities lulled by the unfortunate postponement of the election.
“I was very disappointed when Yakubu said that campaigns would not be reviewed, that campaigns had stopped. That is why I say it’s wrong because it is these campaigns that would have whipped the people up and renewed their interest in going out to vote.
“In a situation where people have lost a lot of money, some people had traveled long distances, closed their businesses to come and vote and the election was postponed, it is necessary that the parties should continue to encourage them to come out and vote.
“So they should have followed what the rule is. The law says campaigns should stop 24 hours to the election. But to say no campaign for more than one week to the elections was not right. He should have even allowed the collection of voter’s cards to continue according to the law because from what I saw on the television, a lot of people who wanted to collect the item could not do so.”
The monarch said Nigerians should be allowed to vote for the candidates of their choice, noting that continuity and stability bring more development than a sudden change of parties in power. Citing a case of Lagos which he said has sustained steady development, Abia urged Akwa Ibom people to stick with Gov. Udom Emmanuel to finish a second term just as others did in the state.
“This is time is for Udom. I believe a time will come when others will also have the chance to rule Akwa Ibom State. After Eket senatorial district, it will go to Uyo then Ikot Ekpene and then come back to Eket. So there is a chance for others.
“The world is not coming to an end; anybody that is aspiring to be governor in any party, there is time for it. But this time around for this state, it is PDP. We will encourage people to vote PDP because continuity is important. Do you see what is happening in Lagos? Ever since the civilian regime came, it has been one party and it has impacted steadily on the development of that state. We like that to be seen here in Akwa Ibom State,” he said.
According to him, certain political parties control certain regions of the country. While the North West and South West tend to be dominated by the APC, South-South and South East have been dominated by the PDP leaving the middle belt for which party has a better selling position to grab.
As such, he urged his people to vote for the dominant party which is the PDP, explaining that by the time Emmanuel shall have finished his two terms, his domain, Eket and even the entire Akwa Ibom would have been transformed.