A’Ibom Guber: Nya-Etok Debunks Rumour of Structure Collapse to Udoedehe
…Insists ADC is an Alternate Party Not Third Force
By Ekemini Simon
The Gubernatorial Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Arc. Ezekiel Nya-Etok has refuted reports that he has collapsed his political structure in support of the Gubernatorial candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator John Udoedehe.
Speaking to journalists in Uyo on Thursday, Nya-Etok who is also the Former National Chairman of Young Democratic Party, YDP debunked claims that neither his party nor him has transferred his structure and election campaign formation to another political party.
The ADC gubernatorial candidate said contrary to reports making the rounds that his friend, the NNPP Presidential candidate, Alh. Kwankwaso had called him, settled him with a few billions, and subsequently gotten him to endorse the candidate of his party in Akwa Ibom State, such reports lack substance as he would not betray his sweat and confidence reposed in him by his party faithfuls and supporters across party.
He noted ” When it has to do with the structure of our party being collapsed in support of another, certain fundamental ethical issues are raised, a good part of which bothers my integrity.
” This allegation is weighty in more ways than one. ADC is a party that is built around integrity, service, and sacrifice. Many Nigerians, and in Akwa Ibom State have made unquantifiable sacrifices to build the party to the brand and standard that can be celebrated by leaders that can be considered to be great by assessment. It would therefore be the height of betrayal for one to sell the sweat and faith equity of these noble Akwa Ibomites.
Nya-Etok who is also the Convener of Nigeria First Project pointed out that the so-called chairman of ADC which handed over the structure is someone that is not known to anyone in the party.
The Gubernatorial candidate explained that the people in the audience that the ADC can identify as being part of its members are people that were tricked into attending the meeting.
He said “One of them is here today to testify against them. Being a Pastor, He was invited to attend a prayer meeting and he innocently went for the meeting only to discover that it was in a house that he didn’t know about until the person in question came out. It was at that time that He realized that he had been scammed and conned into attending a meeting that he should have never been a part of.”
He offered insight to the fact that the reason behind the claims may have stemmed from the fact that in the past few weeks and days, he has had several calls from many high-profile politicians with the quest for him to reveal ADC’s candidates for different Offices.
Nya-Etok noted that the inquiry is because certain news had filtered out as to the calibre of candidates that had obtained tickets for different Offices under the aegis of the African Democratic Congress, (ADC).
The ADC Candidate while insisting that the timing of the news which he stressed is fake is to discourage and possibly infuriate Akwa Ibom people who have found ADC to be a party that they can trust added that the the billion naira brandied as being collected by him is intended to cause disaffection among unsuspecting members of the party.
The Gubernatorial Candidate who assured that the party will not be dissuaded in its social governance ideology said the party is currently working on providing high speed internet facility at the ADC arena which is free for all who wish to use it for legitimate business.
While noting that ADC is establishing a new culture in partisan politics, Nya-Etok stated that Akwa Ibom people are embracing the party as an alternate party to the parties some persons may have assumed hold the political grip in the State.
He added “We are an alternate party and not a third force. We are not people coming from another party to form another”.