By Emmanuel Uffot
Barely one month to the Presidential/ National Assembly elections and two months to that of Governorship/ State Assembly and given the discordant tunes which has caused a deep gulf in APC in Akwa Ibom, the former governor, former Senate Minority Leader who is currently the National Vice Chairman of APC Presidential Campaign Council hosted All Progressives Congress ( APC) stakeholders in the state at his country home in Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
At the meeting, Akpabio harp on unity among party leaders and called on them and other party stakeholders in Akwa Ibom to close ranks for the success of the party in the forthcoming 2023 general election.
He reiterated the fact that contrary to the insinuations that there was division in the party, that there was none of such. ” There is actually no problem in the state chapter of the party. What you are seeing today is just a storm in the tea cup. So today’s meeting is enough to settle all grievances. There is no issue at all and there is nothing we can not settle”.
Delving into the genesis of the problem,the former governor, senate minority leader who is again contesting for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial DIstrict said the problem was a matter of disrespect from some members to those that deserve due respect. He enjoined party members in the state to emulate what happened in Calabar when the APC Presidential Candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu intervened to settle the issue that surrounded the governorship candidate of the party in that state, stressing that such could also be brought to bear in Akwa Ibom. ” The problem we had in the party before now is a matter of not respecting those whom respect is due. Let us borrow a leaf from what happened in Calabar recently where our Presidential Candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu intervened and settled the issue that surrounded the governorship candidacy of the party in the state. We can also by ourselves settle the same issue in Akwa Ibom State. Let us look at the larger picture”.
The Vice Chairman of APC Presidential Campaign Council while pledging to contribute his quota towards the success of the up coming APC Presidential rally in the state this month, commended the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Umana Umana for his strides so far in office. ” I was quite impressed when the Honourable Minister published the projects embarked upon by the ministry. It did not matter whether they were projects embarked upon by Pastor Usani or myself. I must commend him for that and will extend to him all the support he will need to succeed.
In his remarks, the state chairman of APC Obong Stephen Ntukekpo thanked Senator Akpabio for hosting the entire party leadership and stakeholders in his country home, with the agenda to unite the party ahead of the elections and pledge the commitment of the party members and leaders to comb the nooks and crannies of the state for votes to ensure the success of the party in the coming general election.
Akan Udofia,the Gubernatorial candidate of APC, who is regarded as the poster boy of APC in Akwa Ibom urged members not to be despair but rather be united and forge ahead as victory of the party is assured.
The Nsit Ibom born oil magnate, advised members not to be discourage by the temporary set back caused by the court ruling and assured them that he will get justice at the Appeal Court and his name will be in the ballot paper in the March 2023 governorship election.
Speaking on behalf of women, former member representing Ini/ Ikono Federal Constituency Mrs Iquo Inyang said nobody can deny the record achievements of Senator Akpabio who changed tge face of the state while in the saddle as Governor and commended him for his sterling leadership. She appealed to the leaders of the party to keep aside whatever differences they may have had and keep the house in order for the victory of the partyin the coming election.
Indeed, the APC hitherto the major opposition party in Akwa Ibom, has in recent times been swimming in what political pundits described as ‘ self inflicting murky waters’. The irreconcilable differences that permeated the party led to a division of the party into two factions with two excos.
It is this division in the party that resulted in the party flagbearer Mr Udofia disqualified by the court from contesting the election.
Recalled that Senator Ita Enang who was a governorship aspirant of APC had challenged the emergence of Akan Udofia as party gubernatorial candidate, alleging that there was no party primaries in the state and Udofia had contested for the same position in PDP primaries, so the court should declare any primary the APC candidate emerged as a nullity. The Federal High Court in Uyo presided by Justice Agatha Okeke heard the prayer of Senator Enang and voided the candidacy of Udofia, ordering the party to hold another primary in two weeks but disqualified the APC flagbearer from participating in such primary.
While Akan Udofia has contested the judgement in Appeal Court pending the determination of the case at the higher court, findings in INEC indicate that Akan Udofia’s name is not in INEC’s register as APC governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom. As ut stands, pending the outcome of the ruling in Appeal Court may end up not having a governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom.
Apart from the issue Governorship candidate of the party, the candidacy of Akpabio himself as Ikot Ekpene Senatorial DIstrict candidate of the party in the state is also a subject of internal squabbles between him and retired AIG Udom Ekpoudom on who is the authentic candidate of the party for the Senatorial DIstrict.
While a Federal High Court recognised Akpabio as the rightful candidate, the Appeal set aside the lower court ruling and maintained that Ekpoudom is the authentic candidate. Senator Akpabio has taken the case to Supreme Court for determination.
So while Senator Akpabio has taken what party members described as a commendable bold move to convene a reconciliation meeting, his chance and that of Akan Udofia cleared to contest the coming election is hanging by the thread waiting for determination by both the Appeal Court and Apex Court otherwise APC will be the biggest loser.
