FOUNDING MEMBERS OF OLD ACN/APC IN AKWA IBOM STATE
OPEN LETTER TO THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS, APC
The National Chairman,
All Progressives Congress,
National Secretariat
40 Blantyre Cres, Wuse 2 904101, Abuja, Nigeria.
Sir,
SOS: Senator Akpabio has strangulated APC in Akwa Ibom State
We have reasons to be much concerned about the survival of our dear party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, considering its listless motion without a perceivable sense of direction just few weeks to the 2023 general elections. Given our deep sense of commitment to this party, we are raising this alarm to alert you against unwholesome activities of the APC standard bearer for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial district, Senator Godswill Akpabio, which are strangulating the party to death.
Dear National Chairman, we dare state that since Senator Godswill Akpabio joined the APC few years ago, the party lost its vitality, unity and cohesiveness owing to Senator Akpabio ‘s deliberate efforts to cause disunity among stalwarts, create walls of division which has weakened the party, allowing him to consolidate power for selfish political reasons.
Prior to Senator Akpabio defection to APC in 2018, APC was much respected opposition, giving the PDP chieftains sleepless nights because of how our party was wooing PDP members over. However, as soon as the news of Akpabio’s defection filtered the air, thousands of APC members who before then defected from PDP to APC, returned back to PDP with reasons that Senator Akpabio will end up destroying the party with his self-seeking polity.
True to what was predicted, Akpabio is wrecking havoc on the party, targeting the very core of party administration – the state executive council. If not put in check, Akpabio could singlehandedly cause the APC to lose its opportunity to win the 2023 governorship election. What started as a bad joke, is snuffing life out of the party with some founding members leaving. Some party members in Akwa Ibom State are still baffled why Akpabio who congratulated Austin Ekanem on NTA, as dully elected APC state chairman after the state congress, could move few weeks after to unilaterally appoint Mr. Steven Ntukekpo as the state chairman. Ever since this happened, there seems to be unending feud between Mr. Austin Ekanem, his supporters and Mr. Steven Ntukekpo.
While this embroglio was still rocking the party, Akpabio who could have asked his stooge to withdraw his case against the party, for an out of court settlement and reconciliation ahead of the electioneering, decided to seek and obtain a court judgement, directing INEC to recognize him as APC Candidate for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, leaving the state party in disarray till date. One wonders on which platform, he will campaign when the state party is still in court!
Sir, let it be known that Senator Akpabio has suffocated every known voice and key personalities in our party. In 2018 , Akpabio defected to APC with a pocket of loyalists, including few House of Assembly members: Idongesit Ituen, Gabriel Toby, Victor Udofia, Otobong Ndem and Nse Ntuen of Itu, Etim Ekpo/Ika, Ikono, Mkpat Enin, and Essien Udim constituencies respectively. Out of all these former lawmakers, only one , Otobong Ndem is remaining in the APC as the rest have all returned to PDP because of selfish attitude of Akpabio. Rt. Hon. Ekerette Ekpenyong, former Chairman of Uyo Local Government Area, Abom Tony Esu, former lawmaker Rep. Ikot Ekpene/ Essien Udim/ Obot Akara in the house of representatives, among many others also left the party. Without doubt, Akpabio has become an albatross to the very party that has given him political breath till today.
Our national party chairman sir, the recent visit of Governor Udom Emmanuel to Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, the main political domain of Senator Akpabio, witnessed mass defection of over ten thousand APC m members to PDP including members of Senator Akpabio’s household. Senator Akpabio’s brother, Ibanga Akpabio who introduced him to politics, also defected back to PDP citing Akpabio’s overbearing attitude. This is a sad commentary against the very man who claims to have brought so much to APC.
As at today, APC is no longer the main opposition party again in the state because the smallee parties with serious commitment and mandate to deliver, have co-opted APC members into their fold. For instance, in the last one month, more than fifteen thousand APC members have defected to the Young Progressives Party, YPP in Akwa which is now the major opposition party, followed by NNPP led by the immediate past interim APC National Secretary which Akpabio unending political debacle with him, resulted in his defection.
As at today, no APC candidate in the state is sure of victory at 2023 elections because of the in-fighting caused by Akpabio’s men.
The most disheartening part of the whole show of shame is that instead of Akpabio to tow the path of reconciliation and rally the remaining party faithful to muster votes for our party in 2023, he now goes about claiming his actions are approved by the party presidential candidate, Ashiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu. As a party leader, we expected him to much more focus on winning in the state but he stays outside the state most times without recourse to the fate of APC in here. His political recklessness spiced with his illogical mantra that ‘what money cannot do, more money can do’, had caused him the Senate seat in 2019. We do not wish to suffer the same date with him in 2023.
A popular adage says “a stitch in time saves money therefore, we call on the national chairman, Abdullahi Adamu to step into Akwa Ibom State and solve the lingering political crisis solely caused by Senator Godswill Akpabio.
As the foundation of conflict resolution is truth and accountability, we also urge the National Headquarters of the party to immediately recognize Mr. Austin Ekanem as the authentic party chairman and then commence reconciliation of aggrieved parties in order to end the lingering crisis that has crippled the party.
We urge you to use your good office to kindly consider our concerns and act promptly. Be assured of our highest esteem always.
Signed:
Obong Johnson Akpanudo
Uyo Senatorial District
Hon. Friday Inyang
Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District
Chief Abang P. Abang
Eket Senatorial District
For and on behalf of FOUNDING MEMBERS OF OLD ACN/APC IN AKWA IBOM STATE