By Offong Okodio
The supremacy battle in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Thursday took a new turn as lawmaker representing Governor Udom Emmanuel in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr. Nse Essien and Prince Ukpong Akpabio engaged in deadly fight in Uyo.
An eye witness account has it that Nse Essien, Udom’s kinsman went to unwind at Ikpe mbak eyop bush bar, Monty Suites in Uyo where he met Senator Akpabio’s younger brother and immediate Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Prince Ukpong Akpabio.
Our reporter gathered that, Prince Ukpong Akpabio who is the PDP candidate for Essien Udim State constituency was with the National President of Maintain Peace Movement, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem and Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Monday Ebong Uko when Nse described them as blackmailers whose only duty is to collect money from the Governor without doing anything to stop mass defection from PDP.
Nse, according to an eye witness, accused the trio that they have succeeded in detaching other people away from the Governor in order for them to have a field day.
Retorting, Prince Akpabio was said to have fired back at Nse Essien popularly called indomitable, asking him what he has done on his part to stop people from leaving the party.
Angered by the comment, Nse was said have swiftly slapped Prince Akpabio, grabbed a beer bottle before him and advanced to stab Akpabio but not for the quick intervention of the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Sir Monday Ebong Uko, Nse was said to have vowed to kill Prince Akpabio.
However, our correspondent gathered that action between the two PDP men is a tip of the iceberg as there have been pockets of infighting among the PDP leaders since Governor Udom and his brother imposed the current PDP candidate on the party leadership.
Emmanuel Enoidem, is said to be running a cartel made up of his kinsmen from Annang extraction whose duty is to shelve out other influential people from other tribes by blackmailing them to Governor.
They are also said to have collected so much money from the governor to prevent people from leaving the party, an act that has caused disharmony among various party faithful.
Meanwhile, findings show that there have been factions within the PDP because of the overbearing attitude of Enoidem, Monday Uko,Enobong Uwah,Frank Archibong and Prince Akpabio over other party men, a situation which has resulted in mass defection of party officials into other parties.
