By Osondu Ahirika

Former Ambassador of Nigeria to Russia, Chief Barr. Assam Assam has said the Elders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Akwa Ibom State are determined to help the Party make a rancour free nomination of a Governorship candidate for the 2023 elections.

Assam made the disclosure in a chat with newsmen after a meeting of those he described as his friends and Like- Minded people held at Emmjm Hotel, Dominic Utuk Avenue Uyo on Monday.

Describing himself as a victim of impunity during the 2015 Governorship Primaries of the PDP in the State, Chief Assam said, the elders met to set up a template and strategies to ensure no aspirant is cheated out of the process and the eventual winner and losers will be satisfied with the outcome.

While denying that the group is a proxy working on a script to install a preferred candidate for Governor Udom Emmanuel, Assam said, the group intends to mount extensive and intensive grassroots campaign to sensitize the public in general, and the delegates to the PDP primaries in particular, on the qualities they should look out for in the person who would qualify to take over from Governor Emmanuel and lead the State come 2023.

He stressed that there will be no impunity or high handedness in the conduct of the primaries and every aspirant will understand why he won or lost. He said they intend to help the PDP achieve such a fair and credible outcome.

Assam decried the administering of oaths (mbiam) on delegates warning on the risks of such despicable act. He explained that, while a delegate is deceived to take an oath of allegiance for a paltry sum, the delegates has no guarantee as he/she did not extract faithfulness from the candidate by also administering oath to him.

He therefore charged the people to shun those who would wish to buy them and rather not compromise their power to make the right choice.

Those present at the meeting include, Senator representing Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, Senatot Chris Ekpenyong Member representing Eket Federal Constituency, Hon. Pat Ikon and Her Excellency , Senator Helen Essuene.

Others are Senator Ibok Essien, Senator Aloysius Etok, former Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Nse Ekanem, Hon. Emman Obot, Dr Udeme Nana, Rt . Hon. Usenobong Akpabio, Hon. Bassey Dan Abia jnr, Rt Hon. Sunny Udom, Rt. Hon. Ekpoattai, Hon. Okon Obot, Chief Chris Abasieyo,
Rt Hon Uwem Ekanem, Hon. Ntangude
Hon. Dr Chris Nyong and Obong Okon Emah