…Ekere, Udoedeghe and Akpan Factions Bicker
…Uncertainty on Who Presents APC List to AKISIEC
The sudden announcement of timetable for the long awaited local government elections in Akwa Ibom has thrown the APC camp into confusion with no clear cut move to reconcile the various factions of the party in the state.
While the Obong Mitchell George chaired faction controls a vast majority of APC faithful in Uyo senatorial district led by a national board of Trustees member, Senator John Udoedehe claims the right to present candidates for the elections, the Amadu Attai led group is also on the other hand claiming to be the authentic faction.
With a seven day ultimatum on political parties to express interest, Akwa Ibom people are watching to see which faction of the party will get the nod of the state electoral umpire to register its intention.
The crises in the state opposition party reached a crescendo last month when a party office inaugurated in Onna by a faction known as the Real APC , was vandalized by a rival group of the same APC.
The office which was commissioned by State APC leader, Senator John Udoedehe was destroyed allegedly under the instruction of the NDDC commissioner from Akwa Ibom, Mr Samuel Frank, sparking condemnation across the state.
Lately Mr. Nsima Ekere’s plotted prayer meeting for Buhari which turned out to be a campaign event in Uyo, saw notable APC leaders deliberately avoiding the event.
The said prayer summit that was scheduled to pray for the Nigerian President’s speedy recovery turned sour as organisers used it as a platform to pray against Nsima Ekere’s opposition both within APC and in other parties.
A statement released by a frontline advocacy group, Mandate Eyes noted that, “Indeed, Mr Ekere took vendetta to an extreme at his own Prayer summit by directing that prayers of God’s blessing should be offered for only APC controlled states in Nigeria, and no word of blessing came for Akwa Ibom State
“In Nsima Ekeres divide and rule tactics, he made sure that prayers were offered for God’s blessing on only federal government appointed officials and none went to Akwa Ibom government appointees, irrespective of whether they were his own siblings, the statement said.
The statement said the prayer summit was not only a sham but that it was so poorly handled that no known religious umbrella group or leader (PFN, CAN etc) was invited to the prayers because of the selfish motive and the APC top stakeholders like Umana Umana, Akpan Udoedehe, Nelson Effiong, Otu Ita Toyo, Ita Awak, Ben Ukpong, Don Etiebet and others never showed up including the state Chairman of the, APC, Alhaji Amadu Attai.
Already there is a brewing cold war as the NDDC boss has allegedly sponsored politically motivated articles to taint the name of new entrant, Bishop( Professor) Sam Akpan, who defected to the party barely two week ago.
Reports say the NDDC czar is threatened by the ambition of Sam Akpan who came into the party with his own support group and was widely received by the state executive committee of the party, even as he threatened to dislodge all other contenders.
However, it is alleged that Mr. Nsima Ekere now pays everyone who agrees to write against Bishop Samuel Akpan a sum of N250, 000.
A confession by a chieftain of the APC Mr Thomas Thomas, revealed that through his media aide Mr. Inemesit Ina, volunteers have been recruited and payroll to spew insults on all political opponents of the NDDC Managing Director, including the Governor of Akwa Ibom state.
This is said to really be a setback for Bishop Akpan who had come into the party with open arms, and with a promise to help unite the factions in the party.
According to the media aide of Bishop Akpan, Mr Solomon Umana, the newcomer has extended goodwill to all factions that may exist within the party and only wants a fair ground to contest the guber race come 2019.
It will be recalled last week that the Bishop on his birthday defected from the AP to the APC with a promise to bring his wealth of experience to support the party grow stronger even as the State Chairman Amadu Attai had commended the Bishop as the right material that will push the party’s chances in the 2019 election.
This perceived endorsement seemed to go wrong with the Ekere’s camp.
This has been further compounded by the announcement of the election calendar by Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission, AKISIEC, for November 11.
Many supporters of the factions are already at daggers drawn for who will win the nominations for the LG polls.
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