By Jonathan Ugbal
The leaders of the PDP in the 18 local government areas of the state Tuesday, met at different places in Calabar to finalize their stance on who will be elected into the various executive committees in Saturday’s local government congresses.
The meetings CrossRiverWatch learnt, followed a directive by the Leader of the party in the state, Governor Ben Ayade who left for Abuja yesterday with speculations rife that he was going to join a host of other prominent personalities in the state dinner in honor of Cameroun’s President Paul Biya who was in the country for a two day working visit.
A source in the governor’s inner circle told CrossRiverWatch that though the option A4 has been adopted, it was necessary for the party’s leadership in the various wards as well as stakeholders to convene at the local government level and produce candidates for the local government executive committees to prevent rancor on the day of the congresses.
This may have confirmed the fear expressed by some members of the party that certain loopholes in the option A4 system announced by the embattled National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh will be exploited by some to ensure the old system of imposition still works.
However, the source said the meetings will help in making some aggrieved members feel at home as everyone will be carried along in the process with time given to each ward to produce nominees for the positions that have been zoned to them.
The meeting place of the Obudu chapter where the governor hails from was the Chief of Staff residence along MCC road where this reporter monitored proceedings with those present dissolving into wards to conclude arrangements for the nominations and the comprehensive lists to be forwarded back to the ward chairmen for onward distribution to members by Wednesday (today) morning.
Calls to several other members from other local government areas shows the meetings followed the same pattern with consensus candidates picked with all saying, it is in a bid to prevent rancor or unwanted eventualities in the congresses slated for Saturday across the 18 local government areas of the state.
Meanwhile, it is still unclear who will eventually succeed Ntufam John Okon as the state Chairman as interested party faithfuls are said to be either scared of making their intentions public or biding time to see the outcome of things at the local government congresses which will determine the course of things at the state level.
Names such as Joe Bisong and Godwin Ettah, a former Secretary of the party who is now Commissioner for Education amongst a few others, have been on the lips of some though CrossRiverWatch had reported that the position might likely go to Yakurr where the party feels “threatened” by the number of federal appointments from the council area.
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