Eket Senatorial District 2019: Antai, Eyakenyi ready to fight dirty
The battle of who flies the PDP flag in Eket Senatorial District in February’s General Election will be a titanic brawl between crowd favorite, Culture &Tourism Commissioner Victor Antai and the seemingly anointed one, former Lands& Housing Minister Akon Eyakenyi while Ex- Attorney General Emmanuel Ntekim remains the dark-horse in a race that promises to go down to the wire, writes Political Editor, Signor Emedu…
The much anticipated battle for the PDP ticket in respect of the 2019 general election has taken shape with clear indications emerging that former Lands and Housing Minister, Dr Akon Eyakenyi has been drafted into the race by powerful stakeholders who are keen to see her at the Red Chambers next year.
According to impeccable source who spoke to Newslinkng.com, every necessary back-up has been given to Eyakenyi by the powerful men to make sure she emerges with the PDP ticket ahead of Antai.
Newslinkng.com can however report that annexing the coveted PDP ticket will not be a stroll in the park for Eyakenyi as Culture and Tourism Commissioner, Antai has been mobilizing for a long time ahead of the PDP primary and election proper.
According to a top PDP source who spoke to this reporter, how to pip Antai to the ticket has been giving the stakeholders sleepless nights as the Culture and Tourism Commissioner’s strength in Oro Nation where the party has zoned the Senate seat to, is massive.
Newslinkng.com was informed that plans have been underway to sway party chiefs in the senatorial district to see the need to select a consensus candidate during the primary election billed for August this year. This move which is a plan orchestrated to scheme-out Antai will have Eyakenyi as beneficiary.
However, in case that plot fails, a plan B which will be to compel the Commissioner to surrender the Eket Senatorial District ticket for the lesser Oron Federal Constituency PDP ticket will surface. According to our party source, it is unlikely that Antai will snub the offer but if he does, a final plot to ‘intimidate’ him with orders from above to withdraw from the race and support Eyakenyi who is the ‘anointed’ candidate will be played out.
Newslinkng.com can authoritatively report that Dr Eyakenyi has been touring the length and breadth of Eket Senatorial District canvassing for support from party(PDP) faithful in a bid to emerge flag-bearer for the 2019 senatorial district election.
The PDP ticket which few months ago had Antai as the favoured candidate also has former governorship candidate Barr Emmanuel Ntekim also jostling for it. But while Ntekim is regarded as outsider in the race, Eyakenyi’s sudden emergence as the alpha candidate for the ticket has baffled pundits who had felt that Antai, with his huge support base was the man to beat.
Over the weekend, a war-cry on social media by Victor Antai portraying a reluctance to surrender the ticket for the ‘anointed’ Eyakenyi trended on social media and signified that the process of choosing a candidate for PDP in Eket Senatorial District will definitely go down to the wire.
“Framing, blackmail and name calling are routes I have travelled. Conspiracy including some Oro political women and desperados can’t stop me! RUBBISH. I am never afraid of political battles. You know me. Ain’t seen nothing yet. Time will tell”, Antai roared.
However, his(Antai) hard stance has not dissuaded Eyakenyi and her powerful handlers who have reportedly vowed to land her in in the Red Chambers next year no matter what it takes.
How will they do it? Will the lovable Antai finally bow to pressure at the end? Or will Ntekim, the darkhorse emerge as the compromise candidate? These are some of the questions begging for answers right now. However, only time will tell.
