Akwa Ibom APC Suspends 17 LG Caretaker Chairmen, 2 Others Over Anti-Party Activities
The State Caretaker Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom State led by the State Chairman, Dr. Ita Udosen has announced the immediate suspension of 17 LG Caretaker Chairmen and two other members over alleged anti-party activities.
Addressing the media after the State Working Committee and State Executive Council meeting, Dr. Udosen flanked by other members of the State Executive strongly condemned the actions of the 17 LG Caretaker Chairmen who partook in a press engagement organized by mercantile elements where a vote of no confidence was passed against the State Working Committee on the 31st of July 2021.
Relying on the constitution of the party, Dr. Udosen stated that “The State Working Committee deliberated extensively over the case of 17 LG Caretaker Chairmen who were sponsored to embarrass the party with such a false communique and mandated me by article 21 sub 1-6 and 9 as Chairman to announce their indefinite suspension with immediate effect and ask them to hand over the vehicle and other properties of the party in their possession to their deputies.”
“The affected Chairmen are Pst. Edidiong Idio (Etim Ekpo), Mr. Ifiok Udoh (Nsit Atai), Bassey Effiong Udo (Uruan), Hon. Ubong Ekpo (Ikot Abasi), Elder Ubong Inyang (Ikono), Hon. Augustus Amos (Esit Eket), Mr. Akaninyene Ukpanah (Ukanafun), Hon. Nkereuwem Edet (Nsit Ibom), Elder Daniel Ekanem (Ikot Ekpene), Elder Anthony Toby (Oruk Anam), Elder Friday Wilson (Ika) and Emmanuel Samuel Akpan (Ibeno). Others are Hon. Samuel Mbosoh (Onna), Effiong Toby (Oron), Hon. Emmanuel Udoh (Mkpat Enin), Akparawa Daniel Umoh (Ibiono Ibom) and Joseph Sam (Ibesikpo Asutan)”.
“There were equally two lawyers who assisted the 17 LG Caretaker Chairmen to embarrass the party, one Barr. Mfon Udeme from Ibiono Ibom LGA and Barr. Imo Akpan from Ikono LGA. The party has also decided to suspend them forthwith from the APC pending the decision of the disciplinary committee headed by Eket Senatorial District Chairman, Sir Inyang Abia”, warning that the party won’t hesitate to go after their sponsors.
Speaking on the conduct of the ward Congress, Dr. Udosen said the exercise went on peacefully and wondered why some people tried to be mischievous by claiming otherwise. According to him, “Gone are the days one big man will sit in his parlour and write names of Ward Officers, APC has been returned to the grassroot.
“At the stakeholders meeting held on Friday, we had agreed that because of the monthly statewide sanitation which restricted movements, that we ought to obey the laws of Akwa Ibom State and this is what delayed early circulation of materials. So that protest you saw at the party secretariat by few misguided youths was purely over the delay in releasing materials and that was done immediately after the sanitation. But instead to going back to their wards, those youths stayed back probably at the instruction of their sponsors to cause drama and paint a picture that there was trouble in Akwa Ibom APC. That is untrue, APC in Akwa Ibom is a united family and I am the only authentic State Caretaker Chairman of this great party”, he added.
Dr. Udosen further stated that the process of electing those who will pilot the affairs of the party at the Ward level, was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies as party faithfuls went about their duties peacefully without any acrimony or violence, noting that, it is a testament to the democratic credentials of our party, enjoining those with complaints to table it before the appeal committee which will soon arrive the state.
It is further learnt that the State Working Committee unanimously passed a Vote of Confidence on Dr. Ita Udosen’s leadership, The Governor Buni Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and the Alhaji Yusuf Sheriff Banki led-committee for the smooth and peaceful process, stressing that the success recorded in the congress is a sign of a good omen for our party that guarantees all-around victory come 2023.
They called on other leaders of the party to justify the confidence reposed in them and be fair in all their dealings, saying the success of the party will significantly depend on their capacity to administer the party in the right direction.
