Akpabio losses bid to retain leadership of APC in A’Ibom

Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom state have foreclosed the chance of the former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, emerging as the leader of the APC in the state.

Reports have it that the state working committee and stakeholders of the party resolved at a meeting held August 24 in Uyo, that the state caucus Chairman of the party, Atuekong Don Etiebiet should continue as leader of the party in Akwa Ibom state.

Atuekong Etiebiet is a one- time minister of petroleum and national chairman of the defunct ANPP.

The Dally Times gathered that the decision to have Etiebet as leader of the party was sealed after the meeting on Saturday which was attended by Senator John Udoedehe, Group Captain Sam Enwang (rtd), Obong Nsima Ekere, Mr. Umana Umana, Obong Rita Akpan.

Akpabio promised to abide by the decision of the stakeholders upholding the status of Atuekong Don Etiebiet as leader of the party and chairman of caucus after his plea to be made an alternate chairman of caucus was roundly resisted by stakeholders, notably, Senator Aloysius Etok and former Military Governor of Ogun state, Group Captain Sam Enwang (rtd).

Following a stiff resistance of Akpabio’s overture to have the position of an alternate chairman created for him which Enwang reportedly argued against since it’s not part of the party’s constitution, Akpabio pleaded that the resolution be kept away from the media to avoid being bashed by members of his former party.

The decision to retain Etiebet as leader of the party over Senator Akpabio was part of a six – point resolution adopted at the stakeholders meeting.

Other resolutions adopted were; that a vote of confidence be passed on President Muhammadu Buhari, the chairman of caucus and leader of the party Atuekong Don Etiebiet as well as the chairman of the party in the state, Mr. Ini Okopido; that Senator Akpabio is welcomed to the party and that there is no zoning, hence there will be no automatic ticket or right of first refusal for members of the party who are currently holding elective positions.

Some state based newspapers had reported that there was furore in the party when the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole pronounced Akpabio leader of the party in Akwa Ibom state during his reception into the party on August 8, in Ikot -Ekpene.

A caucus member of the party told reporters in Uyo, that many stakeholders would have left the party if Akpabio had insisted on leading the party in the state, saying the resolution was a saving strategy to forestall more defections from the party.

Since Akpabio joined the APC, some stakeholders among whom, a former governorship aspirant, Dr. Udoma Bob Ekarika, the immediate past state Deputy Chairman of the APC, Obong Emmanuel Udoh, and youth leaders of the party from Ikot -Ekpene Senatorial District have defected to the PDP.

The caucus member said Akpabio’s real motives for joining the APC is yet to be known.