Culture of impunity, lack of fair reward system may bury PDP in Akwa Ibom State – Archbishop Unwanta

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, Archbishop Andrew Unwanta has warned the leadership of the party in the State against actions he claims will promote a “Culture of impunity and lack of fair reward system” within the party.

Archbishop Unwanta made the assertion in an interview in Uyo while responding to questions on the party’s readiness for the 2023 Governorship election in Akwa Ibom State.

According to Unwanta, the PDP risks implosion following the way and manner it is conducting its affairs in relation to the various litigations rocking the emergence of Pastor Umo Eno as the PDP flagbearer for the 2023 Governorship election.

In his words “I have witnessed so many governments and have been part and parcel of enthroning at least almost all of them including the one in power now – Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel. I had been the International President of ACA – Akwa lbom Consolidation Alliance, which was the flagship organisation that piloted the affairs of our dear governor when he came into office in 2015. So, I am familiar with the politics of Akwa lbom but the intrigues in the politics of today are more than what I have seen in the past.

“l am not impressed because when the intrigue is too much, it creates division and when a party is divided, the chances of that party winning may be very slim like it happened in Ekiti State governorship election recently. The intrigues there were what marred the chances of PDP in that state to emerge victorious. The Social Democratic Party, SDP, candidate in that election actually moved out of PDP because he was rigged out of the nomination process. You can’t imagine somebody that left the platform of PDP going into the election to become second even when he had withdrawn officially and had asked his supporters to vote for PDP.

“The people were very bitter and still voted for him as SDP candidate and PDP ended up becoming third in the Ekiti polls while the candidate of the APC won. Unnecessary intrigues can ruin the chances of a party as it happened to PDP in Ekiti. So, as of today, I’m not too happy about the way things are going in Akwa lbom State. What is happening in PDP is also the fate of APC. Lack of internal democracy does not allow stability in the party,” he stated.

On the various court cases instituted by aggrieved members of PDP against the conduct of the PDP Governorship primary, Archbishop Unwanta expressed optimism that the court would grant fair judgement which he believes would be in the overall interest of PDP in Akwa Ibom State.

“We are in court right now as regards what took place in Akwa Ibom and I think the court will give ruling on that. No hope is lost. The court’s judgement can give a new direction altogether. We are waiting to see exactly what will come out of the court,” Archbishop Unwanta concluded.