Crisis in Akwa Ibom APC: Stakeholders reject Akpabio as leader

The Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom have endorsed the decision of the State Executive Council to declare as a nullity that Sen. Godswill Akpabio was the leader of the party in the State.

This was contained in a communique issued at the end of APC enlarged stakeholders meeting and made available to newsmen in Uyo on Monday.

The meeting was attended by the National Caretaker Secretary of the APC, Sen. John Akpanuodehe, the Managing Director of the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone Authority and Mr Umana Okon Umana.

Others were the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Ita Enang, the Sole Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Mr Efiong Akwa and Group Cpt. Sam Ewang (rtd) among others.

Our Correspondent reports that a group within the party led by a former two-time military administrator of Rivers and Ogun, Group Cpt. Sam Ewang (rtd) had last month endorsed Akpabio as the APC leader in the state.

The stakeholders in the communique kicked against the unilateral decision of the Ewang group to appoint Akpabio the party’s leader in the state.

”That the stakeholders endorse the decision of the State Executive Committee (SEC) to declare as a nullity the unilateral proclamation and announcement of Sen. Godswill Akpabio as the State Party Leader of APC in gross violation of the Party’s Constitution in the unauthorised and illegal Stakeholders meeting of Sunday, March 28, 2021.

”That the Party hereby reminds every member and the general public that the State Chairman (or Caretaker Chairman as applicable here) is the Chairman of the State Caucus as provided for in Article 12.9 Sub (i) of the party Constitution (October 2014 As Amended) and remains the Party Leader in the State until further notice,” communique stated.

The communique dismissed the insinuation that there were factions in the party and urged all leaders of the party holding appointive positions to work for the interest and unity of the APC.

The stakeholders in the communique commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the successes recorded by his administration, especially in the areas of tackling corruption, economic and security challenges in the country.

The stakeholders also expressed satisfaction with the salient job done by the 7-man Membership Registration, Revalidation and Update Committee in Akwa Ibom State under the leadership of Sen. Abubakar Girei for undertaking a rancour-free, peaceful and successful membership registration exercise in the state.