By Emmanuel Nduka
Dr Ani Wellington, Governorship aspirant under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, has vowed to approach a competent court of jurisdiction to “reclaim” his mandate as flag bearer of the party for next year’s polls.
In the aftermath of last week’s gubernatorial primaries held at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, the state capital, his Campaign Organization described the entire process as a sham and a slap to democracy.
Director General of Dr Wellington’s Campaign Organization, Chief Dr Donatus Udaette while addressing journalists on May 31 in a statement titled “The Deliberate Omission of Dr Ani Wellington’s Name and Votes,” noted that it was a deliberate action and an attempt to shut down the popularity of Dr Wellington as the officials of the party who conducted the premeditated primaries never believed that he could pull such weight by coming second after the preferred and anointed candidate of incumbent Governor Emmanuel Udom.
A determined and focused Dr Wellington who spoke exclusively to Heritage Times HT on Wednesday, hinted that he “is going to court to seek redress on the matter”. “I want them to declare me the winner,” he added.
Recounting the activities that led to his loss, he said the state’s chapter of the PDP were not transparent in the election of delegates “They just cornered the delegates and took them to a certain hotel. It was only in one or two Wards that they made it open. Immediately they got the number of people they wanted, they left,” Dr Wellington told Heritage Times HT.
“This was part of the reason many aspirants boycotted the process as the matter was still in court. People like Onofiok Luke and Bassey Albert. A lot of people stayed back from the primaries. Even on the day of the election, nobody was given opportunity to speak. They just came and announced that 1,018 delegates were present and that 14 aspirants were present.
“The delegates were brought in buses from the different hotels where they camped them. They arranged everything, including the scores and they did the ballot according to how they wanted it.
“When it was time to announce the results, they called my name when they began counting the ballot. After that, they handed over the list to Umo Eno who was a contestant and a delegate as well. He went on to publish the list they gave him which didn’t have my name on his website.
“I had the second highest vote. When they finished, nobody signed the result sheet. They did not allow any agent to witness. My agent was pushed away did the thing within themselves and announced Umo Eno winner with 993 votes,” he told our correspondent.
Meanwhile, his Campaign Director has asked all the supporters of Dr Wellington to remain calm, prayerful and supportive as they await the next line of action to reclaim the stolen mandate of their principal from the rape of democracy and due process.
Chief Donatus further appealed to the national leadership of the PDP to take appropriate action to curb the tide of the massive defection that may likely hit the party if nothing is done to address the electoral fraud perpetrated against the aspirants of the party, maintaining that his principal is in high spirits and ready to reclaim his stolen mandate soon.
Albert, a serving Senator, refused to participate in the primary citing existing court order, while Luke, a serving House of Representatives member, who also refused to participate in the primary, cited the inability of the statutory delegates to vote in the primary.
Section 84 (8) of the Electoral Act 2022 excludes other categories of party members from party in the primaries.
