Biase Stakeholders Raise Alarm Over Alleged Hijack of Wards Congress Materials
Bassey BASSEY
Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Biase local government area have raised the alarm over what they described as "brazen" hijack of Wards Congress materials by supporters loyal to Chairman Enyong Edodi.
Investigations by THE BEAGLE NEWS showed that the wards congresses were far from being free and fair neither were the critical stakeholders consulted before shortlisting names of various wards officers.
Further investigations showed that stakeholders in 10 out of 11 wards that make up Biase have queried the authenticity of the wards excos that emerged form the congresses.
Biase politics in the last couple of days have been factionalised between the chairman, Commissioner for Youths and Rep Emil Inyang group. The two groups are at daggers drawn over the House of Reps thicket in 2027.
The stakeholders are worried that even as Governor Bassey Otu has advised various wards to go home and have a free contest or consensus as the case maybe, the Council and his allies paid deaf ears and manipulated the Congress by populating the wards excos with their cronies without recourse to some political leaders.
Speaking, a stakeholder, Engr. Egan Adat Okon-Effiong, a founding registered member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Umon North Ward unequivocal rejected the alleged compilation of a new Ward Executive Committee list reportedly drafted in a private residence without consultation with duly recognized ward stakeholders.
Okon-Effiong in a petition to the State Chairman of APC, said: "A small group of individuals assembled privately and unilaterally prepared a leadership list for the ward. Such an act is unconstitutional, illegitimate, and a direct affront to the democratic principles enshrined in our party’s Constitution."
According to him, the Deputy Ward Leader was not invited, the Hon. Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs was not invited, Councillor representing Umon North ward was not invited and some statutory stakeholders were not consulted.
"I was neither informed nor involved in any such meeting. No transparent congress or properly convened stakeholders’ forum was held.
"This is not merely a procedural oversight, it is a violation of internal party democracy.."
Another stakeholder, who simply gave his name as Emma Bassey said: "I have never witnessed this Kind of brazen display of power in a ward congress by people who claimed to be Democrats.
"It is a shame that the Council chairman failed the first test and has shown his hands too early as so partisan and with much impunity as never seen in Biase politics. If that is how our new PAC wants it then we shall have not option to prepare for a bigger fight ahead of2027 general elections
"Some of us cannot fold our hands and watch those who joined the party to eclipse is from the political terrain. We, therefore, call for cancellation of 10 wards congresses and conduct the people-oriented ones where majority shall participate,which what democracy represents"
THE BEAGLE NEWS put several calls across to the Council chairman and none was returned.
THE BEAGLE NEWS
