By Dennis Udoma, Uyo
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Ward Chairmen in Akwa Ibom are now crying for help from the Presidency, Abuja saying, the National Secretary of the party’s Caretaker Committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe is responsible for their frequent electoral woes of the party in state.
The Chairmen, during a press conference in Uyo at the weekend said, ”Akpanudoedehe’s highhandedness resulting in a penchant for money and arrogating all powers to himself caused the APC to lose 2015 and 2019 elections in Akwa Ibom, warning that the party may lose out again in 2023 if he is not checked.
The chairmen also called for his immediate removal as national secretary, and the suspension of the State Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the party, Dr. Ita Udosen for conniving with Senator Akpanudoedehe to cause the confusion in last Saturday’s ward congresses.
The statement, which was read by the Chairman of Akwa Ibom APC Ward Chairmen Forum, Engr. Saviour Williams, who led 256 ward chairmen out of 329 to the briefing, condemned the conduct of the party’s ward congresses.
According to Engr. Williams, ”We are here to express our positions over the nonchalant attitude of members of the State Executive Council. We resolve that the party belongs to all of us not to a group of people or an individual.
”We condemn the acts of some individuals marginalizing others and hijacking the party structure to themselves. Regarding the ward congresses, we want to say that there were no ward congresses in the entire 329 wards in Akwa Ibom state.
”We also say that the Ward Congress Committee was never constituted in readiness for that congress, as nobody was interviewed and nothing was done to prepare us for the congresses.
”We also want to state that, the list of the aspirants for the ward congress was not published neither were the aspirants screened in line with the provisions in the party’s Constitution.
”Following therefore, we affirm the suspension of Dr. Ita Udosen, the State Secretary and entire members of the State Working Committee of the party. We are also in total support of the position of the State Executive Committee, SEC, in appointing Pastor Edidiong Idio as Acting State Caretaker Chairman of the party in the state.
”We pass a ”Vote of No Confidence” on the National Caretaker Secretary Senator John Akpanudoedehe based on his biased role in the failed congress. We therefore call for his removal as National Caretaker Secretary of the party, as his governorship ambition is not bigger than the party”.
Senator Akpanudoedehe however, dismissed the allegations saying they are ‘unfounded and untrue’. He also noted that, the allegations were the handiwork of some fifth columnists within the APC in Akwa Ibom.
His Press Secretary, Mr. Ata Etuk who spoke on behalf of Akpanudoedehe was quoted as saying, ”Akpanudoedehe is a founding father and a unifying force in the party who cannot do anything to destroy the party.
”Whatever fifth columnists in the APC are doing to destroy the party is not Senator Akpanudoedehe, and they don’t have any reason to call for his removal”.
