…As Akwa Ibom D-Gov candidate promises to protect women, youth interests
By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has proposed names of five persons for the deputy-governorship slot in the State.
The five names were proposed by different groups within the state chapter of the party.
All the names were presented before the Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo-led PDP Deputy Governorship Candidate Screening Committee, sitting at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, yesterday.
This is even as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deputy governorship candidate for Akwa Ibom State, Senator Akon Eyakenyi has concretely assured that she will represent the interest of the womenfolk in government if elected into office come next year.
Eyakenyi, a serving senator representing Akwa Ibom South senatorial district, gave the assurance on Wednesday shortly after being screened by the PDP Deputy Governorship Candidate Screening Committee at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja.
The Deputy governorship candidate further pledged that if the party wins the 2023 governorship election in Akwa Ibom State, she will give exemplary leadership to Akwa Ibom women and female children.
According to her, “I am going to represent the slot of the women, but I am going as a mother for the 31 local government Areas of Akwa Ibom State covering both men, youth, elderly.
“I am going there to serve, to set a standard and ensure that after me, another woman can pick up the position.
“I will also ensure that women have their due and rights at the executive, legislative and party level.
“I am also going to be a model and standard to every woman in Akwa Ibom State’, she promised.
Senator Eyakenyi rated the screening exercise as well conducted, saying, “I want to say the screening exercise was very well conducted, the chairman and members of the committee are well-seasoned intellectuals.
“They asked the right questions and it was a smooth interaction. They needed to know if i had the capacity to run for the office as the deputy governor.”
The coast is, however, not yet clear on who will be the running mate to Lagos State PDP governorship candidate, Mr Olajide Adediran as five names were submitted to the party for selection.
It was gathered that various interest groups and zones within the party felt it is their right to present the running mate.
The flag bearer, Adediran told journalists that all the five person’s jostling for the deputy slot are qualified, but he has to work with just one of them.
Jandor, as the governorship candidate popularly called, expressed the firm hope that the party leadership will conduct thorough screening for the five aspirants and possibly scale down the number to at least two for him to pick his choice.
He, however, assured that the choice of deputy governor candidate will not tear Lagos PDP apart.
