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Alleged Forgery Case: Akwa Ibom PDP Crisis Deepens As Group Asks National Chairman, Ayu To Stop Governor Emmanuel From Imposing His Stooge, Eno On Members

Alleged Forgery Case: Akwa Ibom PDP Crisis Deepens As Group Asks National Chairman, Ayu To Stop Governor Emmanuel From Imposing His Stooge, Eno On Members
August 5, 2022

Eno is being dragged to court by Akan Okon, a contestant in the May 25 PDP governorship primary election, over allegations that he is parading a forged West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate in his bid to become the state governor. 

PDP Minders Forum, PMF, a support group of the Peoples Democratic Party, has asked the national chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu to caution the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel. 

In a statement sent to SaharaReporters and signed by its national coordinator, Idorenyin Umah, the group said Emmanuel's insistence on installing his stooge, Umo Eno as governor of the state in 2023, is endangering the party. 

It also expressed fear about the ongoing certificate forgery case against Eno, adding that the party risks not having a governorship candidate in the state in 2023. 

Eno is being dragged to court by Akan Okon, a contestant in the May 25 PDP governorship primary election, over allegations that he is parading a forged West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate in his bid to become the state governor. 

Okon also joined the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants in the case. 

In a joint statement of defence recently, Eno and PDP, who are the defendants, withdrew the “Confirmation of Result” earlier tendered to the court in defence of the certificate forgery allegation. 

While responding to Okon’s earlier statement of claim to the Federal High Court, Eno had in his first statement of defence attached a copy of the ‘Confirmation of Result’. 

Alleged Forgery Case: Akwa Ibom PDP Crisis Deepens As Group Asks National Chairman, Ayu To Stop Governor Emmanuel From Imposing His Stooge, Eno On Members Alleged Forgery Case: Akwa Ibom PDP Crisis Deepens As Group Asks National Chairman, Ayu To Stop Governor Emmanuel From Imposing His Stooge, Eno On Members

SaharaReporters had exclusively reported how WAEC confirmed that the governorship candidate’s certificate did not exist in its records. 

In a letter dated April 8, 2022, and signed by T. A. Ademola, WAEC Exams and Records, the examination body stated that it could not certify the certificate because it did not issue it. 

“This is to notify you that certificate No. PO 275878 A for candidate No. 15725119 of December 1983 submitted for certification by you does not exist in our records hence we cannot certify what we did not issue,” the letter had read. 

 Reacting, the group further revealed that the governor’s succession plan has caused a serious crisis in the party resulting in the continuous defection of members from the party, adding that the party is on the verge of losing Akwa Ibom in 2023. 

"At the centre of the increasing, yet avoidable crisis in the party is Governor Udom Emmanuel's insistence on installing his preferred successor, Mr Umo Eno as governor of the state in 2023. Governor Emmanuel's self-serving succession plan has so far met strong resistance from Akwa Ibom people.  

 "The people's resolve has been further strengthened by the plethora of damning controversies surrounding the said preferred successor, Umo Eno, as well as the emergence of strong and credible alternative political parties in the state.  

 "With the 2023 elections drawing closer every day, political parties are putting their houses in order as they prepare for the elections. Sadly, the case is different with the PDP in Akwa Ibom as members who have held the party's forte for years are now leaving the party in droves on a daily basis in what is described by many as the "biggest defection" to hit the party. 

 "In less than (a) month, the party has lost close to 100 serving officers of our great party from the state to the ward level. For instance, in Ikono Local Government Area, an entire ward executive and other members of the party in the ward, defected from the party leaving the PDP seriously punctured in that area. No matter how much they try to make light of the crisis, the truth remains that PDP is on the verge of losing Akwa Ibom.  

"Governor Udom Emmanuel's pride and arrogance have caused the party to lose strong members like serving House of Assembly members to another political party who will be contesting elections against our candidates. 

"In Esit-Eket/Ibeno State Constituency, the current House of Assembly member is the candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) for the state constituency election next year. In Mkpat Enin State Constituency, a former and best performing local government chairman of the area is the candidate of YPP for the state constituency election.  The serving State House of Assembly member for Ikono State Constituency has defected to YPP and is the party’s candidate for the state constituency election. 

 "In Eket Senatorial District where Governor Udom Emmanuel is from, a former Commissioner for Works and immediate past Chief of Staff to the Governor is the senatorial candidate of YPP. With all his actions which are very detrimental to our party, many people strongly believe that the governor is intentionally destroying the party," the group said.  

“With Governor Udom Emmanuel adamant on Umo Eno, concerned party faithful are worried that the PDP in Akwa Ibom is at the risk of not fielding a governorship candidate in 2023. As one who was already well-established in the private sector, Governor Emmanuel has clearly failed to understand what catastrophic damage he will leave behind should the worst happen. 

"For us, who have laboured over the years to build this party from scratch to what it is today, it will be very devastating to watch our years of hard work go down the drain on account of one man's actions. Akwa Ibom people are further infuriated by the governor's frequent bragging that he will “buy the judgement”. Already, over N2 billion of Akwa Ibom tax money has been wasted on the case. 

 "To this end, we are appealing to you, our beloved national chairman and by extension, the national leadership of our great party to call Governor Udom Emmanuel to order. The governor cannot be bigger than the party, and therefore as a matter of urgency, must listen to the voice of reason," the group added. 

“We are even more worried considering that the man whom Governor Udom Emmanuel is desperately trying to install as his successor is battling with allegations of certificate forgery.  

“There is an ongoing legal battle over certificate forgery between Akan Okon vs PDP, Umo Eno and INEC at the Federal High Court, Uyo. Akan Okon, a former Commissioner in the state, who was a contestant in the May 25 governorship primary of the PDP in Akwa Ibom has dragged Umo Eno to court on the allegations that Eno is parading forged WAEC certificate in his bid to actualize the governorship ambition. 

“Since the commencement of the case, various undeniable evidence against Umo Eno has made it to the public space. For instance, in the letter dated 8th April 2022 and signed T. A. Ademola, WAEC Exams and Records, while responding to a request for certification of Umo Eno's 1983 WAEC result, the examination body stated that it could not certify the result because it did not issue it. 

“No matter how the state-sponsored media spins it, Umo Eno has questions to answer over his certificates, documented multiple dates of birth among others. A copy of Umo Eno's credentials available in public indicates that Mr Eno combines two Ordinary Level Certificates (African Examinations Council General Certificate of Education of June 1981 and December 1983). But these certificates are full of discrepancies. 

“Forgery of any kind is a criminal offence. For the avoidance of doubt, section 463 of the Criminal Code provides for three years imprisonment for forgery while sections 362 to 364 of the Penal Code deal with forgery with a punishment of up to 14 years imprisonment with the option of a fine or both.  

“Section 465 of the Criminal Code Act defines forgery thus: A person who makes a false document or writing knowing it to be false, and with the intent that it may in any way be used or acted upon as genuine, whether in the State or elsewhere, to the prejudice of any person, or with the intent that any person may, in the belief that it is genuine, be induced to do or refrain from doing any act, whether in the State or elsewhere, is said to forge the document or writing. 

 “A person who makes a counterfeit seal or mark, or makes an impression of a counterfeit seal knowing the seal to be counterfeit, or makes a counterfeit representation of the impression of the genuine seal, or makes without lawful authority an impression of a genuine seal, with intent in either case that the thing so made may in any way be used or acted upon as genuine, whether in the State or elsewhere, to the prejudice of any person, or with the intent that any person may, in the belief that it is genuine, be induced to do or refrain from doing any act, whether in the State or elsewhere, is said to forge the seal or mark. 

 “With Governor Udom Emmanuel adamant on Umo Eno, concerned party faithful are worried that the PDP in Akwa Ibom is at the risk of not fielding a governorship candidate in 2023. As one who was already well-established in the private sector, Governor Emmanuel has clearly failed to understand what catastrophic damage he will leave behind should the worst happen.  

“For us, who have laboured over the years to build this party from scratch to what it is today, it will be very devastating to watch our years of hard work go down the drain on account of one man's actions. Akwa Ibom people are further infuriated by the governor's frequent bragging that he will “buy the judgement”. Already, over N2 billion of Akwa Ibom tax money has been wasted on the case. 

“It is on record that never in the history of Akwa Ibom has a candidate been so sternly rejected by the masses. In our considered opinion, this is a warning sign to the PDP. To this end, we are appealing to you, our beloved national chairman and by extension, the national leadership of our great party to call Governor Udom Emmanuel to order. The governor cannot be bigger than the party, and therefore as a matter of urgency, must listen to the voice of reason.” 

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