Youths protest candidate’s imposition

Youth of Urueoffong Oruko Local Government of Akwa Ibom State have protested alleged plans to impose a chairmanship candidate on the area.

They kicked against the alleged imposition of Mrs. Precious Selong as consensus candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) instead of Col. Sampson Edet (rtd).

Placards-carrying youths stormed the council secretariat, shouting “Say no to imposition and nepotism”; “Urueoffong Oruko must be free from wicked cabals”; “Urueoffong Oruko resist imposition of any candidate”; “Say no to godfatherism”; and “Urueoffong Oruko must elect their chairman in October”.

Ben Okung, who led the protest, said the wrong selection of aspirants would stagnate the party’s progress and popularity.

Okung, a former House of Assembly aspirant under National Party of Nigeria (NPN), said he returned to PDP to ensure that qualified persons were given the mantle of leadership.

“The youth and concerned elders of Urueoffong Oruko came out to express their minds through this protest. We don’t want Mrs. Precious Selong as our chairperson.

“We call on Governor Udom Emmanuel to provide a level-playing field for all aspirants and their choice candidate, Col. Sampson Edet (rtd), so that the people can be vindicated if their choice does not live up to expectations.”

Another party faithful, Emmanuel Okon, frowned at the alleged removal of Col. Sampson from the list of cleared aspirants.

He said it was very disappointing and a slap on the people who could not point to any project executed during the tenure of Mrs. Selong as vice chairman and transition chairperson of the council for three years.