By Emeka Samuel, Uyo
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Akwa Ibom has said that the high cost of nomination forms for Councillorship and Local Government chairmanship aspirants was to enable the party fund and maintain its operations in the 329 wards in the state.
This is as party members have continued to criticize the party for the high cost of the forms for councillorship and Local Government chairmen positions placed at N750,000 and N2.9M respectively including tax clearance and other sundry charges.
But the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Barr In Ememobong in a radio programme in Uyo last weekend defended the action saying that the party also needed money to complete its permanent Secretariat.
Ememobong further stated that this would also make it possible for aspirants collectively endorsed by the people to emerge adding that this would also discourage money bags from hijacking the process
“The cost of nomination forms are justifiable. Political Parties the world over need money to remain afloat and pursue laudable programmes. Our Party the PDP is no exception. We run 329 ward offices in this state with at least 17 people working there.
“And again, Politics is meant to be a contributory project. For a Councillor who wishes to vie for an office simply need at least 50 people in that ward to contribute to sending him to go and represent them. In times past, contesting an was a community effort.”
“And no, I do not agree that money bags can hijack the process. This is because we have an electoral college which decides who emerges.
“If you are arguing that someone who has money might sit back somewhere and sponsor a candidate, I ask you what if the person is not part of the electoral college? It is the ward that must decide who represents them.” He explained.
However some members of the public have taken to social media to criticize his defense of the cost of the forms even as the party has halted the sale of the forms for administrative reasons.
According to a resident, Emmanuel Timothy, “you say 329 offices across the state and at least 17 workers in each LGA and I haven’t seen any party office across the 13 wards in Oruk Anam not to talk of workers. Maybe ghost workers.Honestly, the cost of the form is too much for a common man who have the zeal to contest.”
Another resident, Ututofon Ekpo expressed dissapointment over the party’s decision saying that,” I am really disappointed with Ini Ememobong’s justification. Too poor. Which ward office is he talking of? Which seventeen staff is he also talking of?”
