By Emmanuel Uffot
The prevalent internal wrangling in the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom state continues to impact negatively on the strength of the party in the state as one of its chieftains Bishop Sam Akpan, last Friday July 7, led other big wigs of the party to return to the Peoples Democratic Party. Others who followed Akpan to defect to PDP were Dr Edet Ati,Dr.Bassey Antai, a former Commissioner, retired Permanent Secretary Michael Eyo and a grassroot politician Imeh Gambill.
Bishop Akpan, a former staunch member of PDP who wasInternational Coordinator of Akwa Ibom Peoples Forum (AKPF), a prominent political platform former governor Godswill Akpabio used as a springboard to execute his second term, was before his return to PDP the current Chairman AkwaIbom APC Action Coalition (AAC). Speaking on behalf of others in a gathering to receive him, he said their decision to return to PDP was informed by the need to belong to a party that remains the choice of Akwa Ibomites since the dawn of the current democratic dispensation because of its disposition to always put the interest of the people and the state above consideration. “Akwa Ibom PDP has metamorphosed into a movement that has become the way of life of Akwa Ibom people. Every politician in the state who is truthful will admit that it is impossible to beat this party because they have continued to respect the unwritten but binding socio-political contract they have with the people”. He maintained that him and other chieftains together with their legion of supporters, have decided to return to the ruling party in the state which is where millions of Akwa Ibom people belong to.
He commended Governor Emmanuel for his sterling achievements not only in the state but the way led the PDP family. And stressed that this very feat added with the robust structure of the party in all the nooks and crannies of the statewill propel the party to another resounding victory in the forthcoming 2023 election.
The state PDP Chairman Elder Aniekan Akpan commended the APC chieftains and their supporters for pulling their structures back to the PDP which they earlier belong, noting that their act was a demonstration of the love they have for Akwa Ibom state.“Your decision to empty what was left of the APC in AkwaIbom State into our party the PDP shows that all of you are patriots who have recognized the need for Akwa Ibom State to continue on the path of sustained progress and development”. The PDP chairman noted posterity will record the patriotic steps they have taken and assured them that the party will treat all Akwa Ibom people that have return to PDP with honour by according them all the rights and privileges accrued to all members and stakeholders alike.
The defection of Akpan and others from the state APC which is one of the many afflicting the party in recent times no thanks tothe in house prolong squabbles in the party which has torn the party into two factions, came on the heels of the party’s state–wide ward meetings ordered by the party hierarchy to receivethe decampees and also facilitate reconciliation of aggrieved members which took place on Saturday July 9, 2022 in the 329 wards across the state
The return of Bishop Akpan who was a powerful figure in PDP during the government of Senator Godswill Akpabio and Antaiis seen as a big plus for the party ahead of next year election given their political pedigree. The former was Senior Special Adviser Political Bureau and Chieftaincy Affairs and also International Coordinator of AKPF. He was also a one-timegubernatorial aspirant in the state. During the administration of Akpabio, he was seen as the most powerful PDP stalwart who had the ears of the then governor. Similarly, Antai another prominent chieftain who defected was former Commissioner for Lands and Town Planning and coordinator of AKPF Lagos chapter.
It could be recalled that, one of the prominent and founding member of APC in Akwa Ibom state, Senator John James Akpan Udoedehe, former National Secretary of APC National Caretaker Committee who had been in a running battle with former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs over the control of the party in the state had earlier dumped the party to the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) where he is the governorship candidate.
Stakeholders of the party said that given the pedigree of Akpan and others who were the anchor of the APC in Akwa Ibom, their defection has put the final nail on the “sinking ship of” APC in the state.
It is significant to note that APC in Akwa Ibom State, has for a long while been enveloped by intra- party acrimony which has led to a deep division with two state executives operating at opposite direction. This division, political pundits predict, may cause the party its gubernatorial ticket given the position of the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini that the party’s governorship primary that produced Akan Udofia is not recognised as INEC was not there to monitor it as provided in the Electoral Act. For political analysts that are following the APC episode in Akwa Ibom state, they have pointed out unequivocally that if the party does not resolve its lingering crisis revolving around the factions, it may have the Zamfara treatment that had no governorship candidate in 2019 election.
