By Saidu Idris
365Daily – A faction of the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it survived two ‘coups’ in recent months.
It said the coups were undertaken by members who do not want Akwa Ibom to participate in the forthcoming national convention of the party in Abuja.
There has been noticable internal friction in the chapter, leading to the emergence of two factions, which subsequently produced two different state chairmen. While one of factions is promoted by the National Caretaker Secretary of APC, Senator John Udoedehe, the other is led by a former Governor of the State, Senator Godswill Akoabio, who is also the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
Last week, an Abuja High Court ordered the removal of Udoedehe’s factional chairman, Austin Ekanem. The court had also ruled that Obong Stephen Ntukekpo, who is the Chairman of Akoabio’s faction, was the the duly elected chairman and should be sworn in immediately.
But that court judgement, according to the Publicity Secretary of the Udoedehe’s faction, Solomon Johnny, is already being appealed. He said that APC faithful in the state should keep faith with the party and support to victory in 2023.
He went further to say in a statement on Monday, March 29, 2022: “Last week, All Progressives Congress, APC, Akwa Ibom State Chapter survived two coups plotted by men who have now become known publicly as enemies of the party in Akwa Ibom State with a sinister plot to ensure that APC does not participate in the 2023 governorship election.
“The first coup was the attempt to remove Senator John Udoedehe as National Secretary, Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of APC. Senator John Udoedehe’s only sin was being loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Party chairman, Gov Mai Mala Buni and being committed to the party as her scribe. The second coup was the attempt to disband the Austin Ekanem led State Executive Committee of the party in the state using the court in a matter that neither the state chairman nor any member of the exco was joined. However, equity will never allow that Law to be used as an instrument of fraud. The plot equally failed.
“Thus, by the grace of God and the vigilance of the party, we successfully foiled and waded the plots. Senator John Udoedehe remains the National Secretary of APC and shall man the secretariat of the party at the National Convention billed for next week in Abuja. Prince Austin Ekanem remains the State Chairman of APC in Akwa Ibom State and shall lead Akwa Ibom delegates to the National Convention on Saturday, 26th March 2022.
“The party in Akwa Ibom State has activated her right of Appeal and fair hearing. Thus, the judgement purporting to make fugitive Stephen Ntokekpo State Chairman of APC in Akwa Ibom State has been appealed by the party. A stay of execution has equally been secured. Technically speaking, we have returned Ntokekpo and sponsors of that judgement to the status quo. They remain rebels fighting a wrong battle at a wrong time and a wrong place. The structures of the party as previously constituted through the wards, chapters and State congresses remain intact. There is therefore no cause for alarm by our committed party members, supporters and oppressed masses of Akwa Ibom State who were rattled by the news as spinned by Ntokekpo propaganda machineries.
“We shall continue to keep surveillance around the victory which APC recorded in the installation of grassroots leadership for the party last year. While opening the doors of APC to the rebels and their ranks as part of our ongoing effort to reconcile interests willing to join the rescue movement, we shall refuse to be distracted by those who seek to play God over the affairs of men in Akwa Ibom State and APC specifically. In every man resides the potentials to rise to the top in their fields of endeavour. No one man was supposed to win all the time while others keep failing all the time. Leaders should always understand that success and failure rotate politically and that as far as politics is concerned, there is no permanent champion who must have his way at all times.
“From the Publicity Secretariat of our great party, we shall continue to engage Akwa Ibom people on the need for change using the media as we have done since our inauguration. As our State seeks good governance and better deal from the government, it is important that our citizens note the point that voting out the PDP is a critical factor to the actualisation of their aspiration for that better life. We shall keep stressing the point and seeking partnership with every Akwa Ibomites to oust the PDP from Hilltop Mansion to ensure better life for our citizens. No problem has ever been solved at the same level and consciousness that created it. The progress and prosperity of our State can only be found in changing the party and team that for 22 years, have been in the saddle of our governance.
“APC in Akwa Ibom State is strong and focused as a better alternative to the PDP in 2023. While thanking the public for the trust, concerns and goodwill demonstrated so far, we ask our masses to keep faith with the party and support her to victory in 2023.”
It’s yet to be known who the authentic chairman of the party in Akwa Ibom is and who should lead the delegates to the national convention, as both factions lay claim to the position.