Ex-Senator, Effiong Bob, makes U-turn; supports zoning of Governorship ticket to Eket District

A former Senator from Akwa Ibom State, Effiong Bob, has advised the Peoples Democratic Party faithful in the state to support the
zoning of the party’s governorship ticket to Eket Senatorial District.

Mr. Bob, a former senator who represented Uyo Senatorial District, had in the past kicked against Governor Godswill Akpabio’s insistence on picking his successor from Eket Senatorial District.

But in a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday, the former lawmaker said as a true party man and leader, he had no choice
but to support the decision of the PDP National Working Committee on the matter.

“No doubt, the recent decision by the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to zone the governorship of Akwa
Ibom State in 2015 to Eket Senatorial District, has created confusion, discontent and perhaps some level of bitter frustration among certain party loyalists in the state; particularly party supporters from Uyo Senatorial District whose interest I have represented over the years,” Mr. Bob said.

“Mostly affected are those who had positioned themselves to participate in the race for the governorship in 2015.

“By this decision therefore, they have lost both the capital and the profit. The question then is: what do we do; do we defy the party’s
directive by allowing our personal ambition to override our loyalty to the much cherished supremacy of the party? Or do we bury our
individual interest and abide by the decision of the party irrespective of the loss and frustrations,” he asked.

Mr. Bob explained that as a leader, he could not toy with any matter that would affect the interest of Akwa Ibom State and Uyo Senatorial District.

He argued that the people of the state and senatorial district have consistently been the ladder to his political career which started as a councillor, council chairman, state lawmaker, commissioner and then federal lawmaker.

Mr. Bob said, “Putting all this side by side with the supremacy of the party and after due consultation with my loyal constituents and
leaders whose advise have guided me in time past, I have arrived at the conclusion that we must bury our personal and group interests in
the larger interest of the PDP. We must respect the decision of the party regarding the 2015 Governorship race in the State.

“I therefore appeal to all aspirants and groups in Uyo Senatorial District to accept this decision as a sacrifice for the growth of the
State and our party.”

Although the decision is painful to the people of the area, Mr. Bob advised party faithful not to jump ship or go against the decision of the NWC.

Currently, he said leaders and stakeholders from the senatorial district are engaging in discussions with aspirants from Eket
Senatorial District to ensure that the interests of people from the area are adequately protected when the party’s candidate finally emerges.

“My dear constituents, let us reason together. Let us exercise patience by accepting the present as a sacrifice for tomorrow. Let us
demonstrate our total loyalty and unshaken support to our party.Tomorrow will surely be better than today.

“We must however ensure, with our votes, that the best and the generally accepted candidates flies our party’s flag and is eventually
elected to the office,” Mr. Bob said.