The Esit Eket Chapter Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Sunday Edoho had stated that if care is not properly taken the internal crises within Akwa Ibom State Chapter of All Progressive Congress may generate to a dangerous point where bloodbath and parallel primaries will be inevitable noting that the published list which was earlier endorsed by Mr. Ini Okopido was alien to Real-APC and other bonafide members of the party in the State.
Edoho who stated this shortly after Barr. Dan Abia (Snr) presented his APC Governorship nomination form to fans and supporters maintained that during the State, Chapter and ward congresses of the party, a gentleman agreement was reached where stakeholders agreed on harmonization of 2014 list and wondered why a certain governorship aspirant doled out 5million naira for publication of fake executive list on local tabloids.
The chairman portrayed APC as peaceless political party insisting that personal interest amongst aspirants has overwhelmed that of societal interest thereby making the party to turned to an atomistic society.
It would be recalled that on the 6th of September, immediately after the publication on prints was out, Okopido had issued statement authenticating the published list.
The released by Mr. Ini Okopido reads in part thus:
"The State Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) wishes to state for the clarification of all that the list of members of the State, Local Government and Ward Executive Committees elected in the recent congresses of the party and published in some state-based newspapers on Wednesday, September 5, 2018, is authentic.
"The list was published after authentication by the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and subsequent approval by the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party."
Reacting to the claims, Mr. Austin Ekanem, the State Secretary of the APC and a nominee of Senator John James Udoedehe faulted the message and sternly warned Okopido and his sponsors to desist from deceiving the party and public at large else face the wrath of the law.
"The attention of the State Working Committee of our great party has been drawn to the statement referenced above purportedly issued by the State Chairman, Mr Ini Okopido authenticating list of party exco in Akwa Ibom State Published during the week by local tabloids without the consent of the party.
"The statement which is currently circulating in the media is fabricated and ... should therefore be dismissed. Those behind the statement are hereby warned to desist from it or face stiff actions from the party." The Secretary warned.
Ekanem dismissed the list as counterfeit noting that though party congresses had ended months back, the Exco list was yet to be ready until 2014 list is harmonized.
"The state working Committee of the party, while managing the situation, wishes to state that the Published list now in circulation in a section of the press is not the authentic list of party executive in the wards and chapters and should accordingly be ignored.
"Recall that barely two weeks ago when a joint meeting of caucus was held presided over by Otuekong Don Etiebet, Caucus Chairman, a committee was constituted to continue the harmonisation and ratification of the 2014 executive list as earlier agreed by different interest groups.
"The committee has gone far in its responsibility and is yet to present its report and final consensus list.
"All party members and supporters of our great party are advised to wait for the official Release of the party executive list as is to be harmonised by the committee soon.
"We warn that any further attempt to breach the peace in our great party shall meet stiff sanction by the party disciplinary committee." He maintained.
Meanwhile, Chief Edo Inyangette, a stakeholder of the party from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, however disagreed with Statement and refuttal credited to Mr. Ini Okopido and Mr. Austin Ekanem respectively, revealing that the authentic State, Chapter and ward executive members of APC were sworn-in at Darty Hotel some months ago.
He posited that, with the defection of the state chairman, Hon. Udoma Bob Ekarika, the party was bent on conducting a bye-election so as to fill the vacuum.
On why there were discordance tunes within the party, Inyangette revealed that each leader of the party has his own faction preempting multiple primaries within the party in the forthcoming elections across the state.
"Just like the children of God suffereth violence and violence took it by force, there will be parallel congresses but the violence shall take it by force.
" Which ever primary the NWC will approve, such winner will stand general election. This is not the first time, in 2015 Udoedehe did parallel election but that of Umana Okon Umana was approved by the NWC" he recalled.
The founding member of the party however acknowledged Dr. Effiong Etok aka Charles Taylor as the State Secretary of the party and warned the public to keep Austin Ekanem at arm's length.
In a petition dated 10th September sent to NWC of the party, the National President Abias' Frontier Movement (AFM)Ifreke Akpabio has urged the national leadership of the party to rescue the State from leadership clashes.
"Dr. Etok had on 4th September issued Press Statement as State Secretary of the party, while Austin Ekanem later issued his as same state Secretary on 9th September, thereby making us to be confused if the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of APC is a Banana Republic of sort.
"How can we have three state leaders namely; Sen. Godswill Akpabio, Atuekong Don Etiebet and Sen. John James Udoedehe? Two state secretaries; Austin Ekanem and Effiong Etok? Two women leader/mother of APC, Mrs. Unoma Akpabio and Mama APC?
" Please we urge the National working committee of APC to come to our rescue and possibly give us a direction" the petition reads in part.
Our reporter observes that with the inclusion of Barr. Dan Abia in the APC Governorship Race, the state chapter of the APC was on the verge of dividing into four major and thirteen minor factions.
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