By Christopher Tom, Uyo
Pressure on A’Ibom PDP to drop or replace Pastor Umo Eno Candidature over allege Certificate forgery
… Fears that the certificate forgery case has lingered for long and there are no clear signals that it will go in favour of Umo Eno, hence the resignation – PDP Stakeholders
… Enable the party have a fair landing before it’s too late to produce better choice for the party
Indication allegedly emerge last week reach advanced stage experiencing serious pressure to drop and replace Pastor Umo Eno as the governorship candidate of People Democratic Party with either Mr. James Iniama or Dr. Iniobong Essien the immediate past commissioner for environment or Hon. Onofiok Luke member representing Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium/Etinan Federal Constituency.
Sources from stakeholders of People Democratic Party suggested the development to drop or replace Pastor Umo Eno to enable the party have a fair landing before it’s too late to produce better choice for the party.
Daily Watch gathered, came on the heels of reports by our news source in the PDP circle allege that Pastor Umo Eno has dropped his resignation letter to the party owing to mounting pressure on him to do so.
The sources said there are palpable confusion and fears that the certificate forgery case has lingered for long and there are no clear signals that it will go in favour of Umo Eno, hence the resignation.
According to this source, since the beginning of the legal tussle on alleged certificate forgery involving Umo Eno which Mr. Akan Okon, the immediate past Commissioner for Ibom Deep Seaport instituted, the national body of the party has advise the State Chapter of the party and Governor Udom Emmanuel to replace Umo Eno as to save the Party from political embarrassment.
Daily Watch gathered that some stakeholders and some high-ranking leadership in the party has never been in support of the choice of Umo Eno right from the beginning, considering that he was not popular but was picked by the governor to become the party choice now witnessing and experiencing this political embarrassment to the party which they allege.
This decision, Daily Watch gathered, though coming late, will put an end, the air of uncertainty that has hovered around the party and the apprehension that Akwa Ibom State, a strong PDP may be taken over by another party gearing up for elections.
In view of this, Daily Watch learnt, the PDP decided to pencil down the names of these three individuals whom the party considers popular and capable of redeeming the almost painted image of the party that Umo Eno’s alleged certificate saga has caused.
The source further said that whereas some party officials believe that Mr. James Iniama has followers and may be favoured by some of the party faithful others are rooting for Onofiok Luke whom they said has what it takes to match any contestant in the state as far as the governorship election is concerned.
It was gathered that of these three mentioned replacement, Luke appears to be favoured by majority of the party officials who see him as a strong political force capable of synthesizing the party and the winning the governorship election for the party.
However, there are contentions in some quarters that his age may be a disadvantage to him, but Daily Watch gathered that many have dismissed this as inconsequential, stressing that the teas ahead of the party to gather support and win the general elections.
