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Palpable tension gripped Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital the weekend following protests by some aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDD) over alleged plans by the state government to substitute the names of some elected governorship and National Assembly candidates.
•Over substitution of candidates
Palpable tension gripped Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital the weekend following protests by some aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDD) over alleged plans by the state government to substitute the names of some elected governorship and National Assembly candidates.
The protesters who besieged the PDP secretariat in Uyo accused the state governor, Obong Victor Attah, of being behind the alleged plot, and warned that the party would lose the state in the forthcoming elections if the list is tampered with.
According to the aggrieved members, plans have been perfected to replace the name of the party's gubernatorial candidate, Mr Godswill Akpabio, with that of the governor's son-in-law. Also to be substituted, according to the protesters, is the Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District candidate, Mr Ime Albert Akpan, who is to be replaced by Senator Effiong Bob.
Warning that the alleged plot would shatter the fragile peace in the state, the protesters threatened to work enmasse to ensure that such illegality did not succeed.
The North-East Senatorial District candidate, Mr Ime Akpan, has, however, urged the restive PDP members not to take the laws into their hands.
In a paid message on the state radio, Akpan appealed to his supporters not to be violent in their approach, urging them to remain calm but vigilant.
Meanwhile, party chairmen in eight of the nine councils that constitute the Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District have protested the alleged attempt to scuttle the people's wish.
In a protest letter dated January 13, 2007, sent to the National Secretariat of the PDP and the chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, the chairmen alleged that some of those who lost in the primaries, including the serving National Assembly members, have boasted that the party's national leadership would upturn the result of the primaries in their favour, claiming that they supported President Obasanjo's third term plot and helped in the speedy passage of the 2007 budget.
The party leaders who denied signing any rejection letter against Akpan's candidature, described the candidate as a man who represents the wishes and aspirations of the people of the district.
When contacted, Mr Akpan confirmed that there are moves to tamper with the list of the election candidates. He, however, urged his supporters to shun all acts of violence and remain vigilant.