From Isaac Job, Uyo
Stakeholders in the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have petitioned the National Leader of the party, President Bola Tinubu, to intervene, alleging that the party has collapsed in Akwa Ibom State ahead of the 2027 general election.
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, Hon. Peter Ibanga from Akwa Ibom South, and Hon. Victor Affiah from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, the stakeholders stated that the APC is on the verge of total collapse and extinction in Akwa Ibom State.
The petition, which was made available to reporters in Uyo, accused the State Chairman of the APC, Hon. Stephen Ntukekpo, and the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Gas), Obong Ekperikpe Ekpo, of selfishness, causing loyal members to abandon the party ahead of the 2027 election.
The statement reads in part:
“We, the founding fathers of the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom State, are compelled to write you this open letter.
“We have been with you since our days in the defunct Action Congress (AC) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which later 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 disclosed that Hon. Stephen Ntukekpo and the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, were directed by the Senate President to work for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
“The duo of the State Chairman of the party, Mr. Stephen Ntukekpo, and the Hon. Minister of Petroleum (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, are telling whoever cares to listen that they were directed by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, 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 comes 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 is urgent and imperative for you to take immediate action to address the moribund state of the party in Akwa Ibom State.”
Meanwhile, the Special Assistant to the Senate President, Jackson Udom, while reacting to the petition, described the allegations as “beer parlour rumours” and questioned how much Akpabio had allegedly sold the party for.
He said, “How much has he sold the party for? APC is still very strong in Akwa Ibom State.”
Udom explained that APC members want the party to start fighting the PDP in the state even when there is nothing to fight for.
“What they want is for PDP and APC, which is under the leadership of the Senate President, to be fighting.
“Politics is beyond all that. Because of harmony, peace, and unity between Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno, they are alleging that APC has been sold out. They should wait for campaigns to start. These are beer parlour allegations.”