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From Isaac Job, Uyo
Concerned Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State have urged President Bola Tinubu and the National Chairman of the party, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, to intervene and resolve the alleged planned moves by the state government to impose candidates ahead of the forthcoming primaries.
The stakeholders include Chief Isang Anthony, Akparawa Johnson Ebuete and Clement Ekong.
Last year, Governor Umo Eno defected to the APC along with all loyal members of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) including those of the national and state Houses of Assembly.
The defection, it was gathered, has created a crisis within the party structure as the defected PDP members and the aboriginal members of the APC scramble for relevance.
In a petition addressed to President Tinubu and the leadership of the party in Abuja, the stakeholders alleged that plans have been hatched ‘to compile a list of favoured aspirants that will emerge from the party screening exercise, to the detriment of the original APC members
The development has created tension, anxiety and frustration among longstanding members of the APC, who laboured tirelessly over the years to build and sustain the party before the recent political realignments in the state, warning that if not checked it could lead to disenfranchisement
The petition titled: “Planned disenfranchisement of popular aspirants, crisis and impending voter apathy in Akwa Ibom State read in part: “We write this open letter with deep concern over disturbing developments within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State ahead of the forthcoming elections. The current situation, if not urgently addressed, threatens the unity of the party, the credibility of the electoral process, and the electoral fortunes of the APC in Akwa Ibom State.
“There are growing fears and widespread allegations among party faithful that the Akwa Ibom State Government, in conjunction with the leadership of the APC in the state, has concluded plans to compile a list of favoured aspirants who alone would be allowed to emerge from the party screening exercise with “clean records,” while other aspirants who are not in the government list and state government’s interests would be unfairly screened out.
“This development has created serious tension, anxiety, and frustration among longstanding members of the APC in Akwa Ibom State, particularly among the aboriginal members of the party who laboured tirelessly over the years to build and sustain the APC before the recent political realignments in the state.
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“This perceived attempt to impose candidates and exclude popular aspirants from participating in free and fair primaries amounts to political disenfranchisement. It contradicts the democratic principles upon which the APC was founded and undermines the spirit of internal democracy which the party has consistently preached at the national level.
“We therefore passionately appeal to the Presidency, the National Working Committee of the APC, and all relevant national organs of the party to urgently intervene in this matter before it degenerates into a full-blown crisis.
“We respectfully urge the national leadership of the party to persuade the Akwa Ibom State government and the APC leadership in the state to conduct free, fair, transparent, and open primaries in strict compliance with the constitution, guidelines, and regulations of the All Progressives Congress.”
“This perceived attempt to impose candidates and exclude popular aspirants from participating in free and fair primaries amounts to political disenfranchisement. It contradicts the democratic principles upon which the APC was founded and undermines the spirit of internal democracy which the party has consistently preached at the national level.”
While noting that the strength of the party lies in justice and fairness, the group requested that all qualified aspirants irrespective of political background or affiliations should be allowed to participate freely in the primaries without intimidation or manipulations
Reacting, Commissioner of Information, Aniekan Ummanah, said there were two ways to the primaries – consensus or open contest – adding that the governor has the right to decide who he prefers
“It is the duty of the party to do their administrative work. But Governor Umo Eno has the right to choose who he prefers. So, it is the party that has its responsibility and it is the duty of the party to officiate in the primaries.
“Of course, you know the provisions of the constitution of APC which clearly states that there are two ways to the primaries. It is either by consensus or by open contest. The governor made it very clear that he would abide by the constitution of the party and provisions of the electoral act.
“The governor has not short changed anybody . He has the right to choose anybody he wants to support as a person and as the governor of the state and as a leader of the party, he has the right.”
