APC replies Ewang, Akpabio over Party Leadership

Tom Okpe, Abuja

All Progressives Congress, APC, Akwa Ibom State Chapter has replied Group Captain Sam Ewang whose stakeholders meeting proclaimed Chief Godswill Akpabio, former governor of the State as Leader of the party in a meeting scantily attended by supporters of the former Senate Minority leader in Uyo.

Recall that on Sunday 28, March 2021, Group Captain Sam Ewang held a meeting, descibed as APC Akwa-Ibom stakeholders meeting, boycotted by party organs across all levels in the state had declared Chief Godswill Akpabio as leader of the party which Ewang claimed he convened because the was division in the state party.

But, rising from a State Executive Meeting of the party at the State party office along Ikot Ekpene road, Uyi, State Chairman of the party, Dr. Ita Udosen said Group Captain Sam Ewang lacks the powers to convene a stakeholders meeting of the party as such, resolutions reached at the meeting which proclaimed Chief Godswill Akpabio as leader of the party were illegal and of no effect on the party whatsoever.

Briefing newsmen in Uyo recently, Dr. Udosen flanked by other members of the state working committee of the party said there is no division in the party as insinuated by Ewang and that only duly constituted party executive at all levels were empowered by the Constitution of the party to organize any party meeting in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
 
He, however, said the party will send an invitation to Sam Ewang to appear before the party on the matter adding that disciplinary action in APC is a tedious exercise and starts with an invitation by the party at the level.

“Group Captain Sam Ewang does not have the powers to call a stakeholders meeting of APC and where he attempts to do so, whatever resolutions reached at the end of such meeting is void a nullity. The general public and the party should ignore it and continue to support the party.

“The party is united, I want to let the general public get that information. It is not true that these two leaders have not been invited to the Stakeholder’s meeting of the party. The truth is that they chose to ignore those invitations and sometimes, they have sent apologies for not attending the meetings.

“There is no provision in APC Constitution for one to be called a Party Leader. Reports of such appointment by one who has no such powers is a nullity and an affront on the party Constitution which the party will address,” Udosen said.

Speaking on the just concluded registration and revalidation exercise of the party, Dr. Ita Udosen said he was impressed at the public acceptance shown by the ruling party by the Akwa Ibom people. 

He said more members of the public have registered in the party making it strong and very close to her goal of taking over power in 2023.