From Isaac Job, Uyo
Stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have petitioned the national leader of the party, President Bola Tinubu, to intervene in the party’s structure to save it from collapse.
In a petition titled: “The worrisome state of the APC in Akwa Ibom State: A call for your urgent intervention” signed by Elder Okokon James from Uyo senatorial district, Peter Ibanga, Akwa Ibom South and Victor Affiah for Ikot Ekpene senatorial districts stated that APC is at the verge of total collapse and extinction in the state
The petition accused the state chairman of APC, Stephen Ntokekpo and Minister of Petroleum Resources (Gas) Obong Ekpetikpe Ekpo of selfishness causing loyal members to dump the party.
The statement reads in part: “We, founding fathers of the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom State, are compelled to write you this open letter to you.
“We have been with you since our days in the defunct Action Congress (AC) to our days in the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) that metamorphosed into our present party, the All Progressives Congress and we have never seen this kind of selfishness, greed, betrayal and treachery before.”
The stakeholders alleged that Ntoekpo and Ekpo were directed by the Senate president to work for PDP to cripple the party in the state to give the PDP an easy ride to victory in the 2027 polls in exchange for the PDP’s support for the Senate president’s third term ambition.
“We want to assure Mr. President that he won’t have party members to receive him when he will come to the state next year to campaign, if something urgent is not done to revive and strengthen the party in the state
“The soul and spirit of the party in the state have been sold to the PDP government in the state and as a result, party members are gearing up to join the upcoming coalition of opposition to your second term ambition
“Your Excellency, it’s urgent and imperative for you to take immediate action to address the moribund state of the party in Akwa Ibom State.”