Nyok|30 October 2018
The Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar South House of Representatives candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Rt. Hon. Apostle Essien Ekpenyong Ayi, in view of the 2019 general elections, Monday, inaugurated the central planning committee for his campaigns NEGROIDHAVEN can report.
The four-man committee which comprises Hon. Chief Inyang Nyong Okon (who also doubles as Akpabuyo LGA coordinator) – Chairman, Hon. Stanley Edet (Secretary), Hon. Ani Esin (member/LGA coordinator for Bakassi) and Hon Orok Oliver (member/Coordinator for Calabar South LGA) has been charged to centrally coordinate the House of Representatives election campaigns in the affected federal constituency inclusive of the presidential, gubernatorial and state house of assembly candidatures.
While inaugurating the committee, Ayi observed that this is the first time the PDP will be contesting as an opposition party, thus, there was need for a different approach to the campaigns which would not be as usual. He added that he anticipates a thorough campaign which will both sell the party and his candidature stressing that those who once preached change are in the ones in dire need for that change, implying that it was time to tell the electorate that the change that erstwhile being preached by the ruling party is more necessary than ever.
His words, 'I am a candidate for the fifth time. And in the history of Cross River State, this is the first time this type of thing has happened.
'Because this is the first time we are contesting as an opposition party, right from the beginning we have been in the ruling party. I felt we should put everything together in order so that we could kickstart on 18th of November when INEC would lift ban on open campaigns for the presidential and national assembly elections in the forthcoming general elections.
'I felt coming from that position of opposition we should rearrange things not as it used to be before, so today, this forms the central planning committee for the elections coming up in 2019 for the People's Democratic Party.
'Even though it's a central planning committee of Essien Ayi, we have the task of delivering all our candidates from the presidential, the governor, to the House of Assembly.
'We are going to do our own, if others have their own, we will synergise. All efforts will be towards one goal and that goal is to deliver the PDP in the forthcoming elections.
'We are going to do a thorough campaign because we are coming from the position of disadvantage. We will sell our party, we will sell our manifesto. We will make sure that we tell the people the real need for the change. It is now that we need the change, because things are too difficult.'
While responding, the Chairman of the Committee who appreciated Ayi for reposed confidence assured the latter of emerging victorious at the polls. According to him, 'I want to really thank you very much for not only choosing us but for this great confidence reposed on us, the trust that we can deliver on this mandate. I want to stand here on behalf of all these prominent politicians that I know too well have the capacity to deliver on this mandate to assure you that come 2019, you and the rest of the candidates you have mentioned here will emerge victoriously.'
'Today is not the day for making speech, but, be rest assured that we will deliver', Okon concluded.
Present at the occasion was political bigwigs including serving House of Assembly members, Commissioners, for Councillors, etc
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is the Blogger-in-Chief, Editor-in-Chief & Publisher of NEGROIDHAVEN