Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, has been rejected as party leader by Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Akwa Ibom State.
This decision was arrived at a second stakeholders meeting of the party held on Sunday at SheerGrace Arena, after which the party kicked against the unilateral decision of a group within the party led by a former two-time military administrator of Rivers and Ogun states, Group Captain Sam Ewang to endorse Akpabio as the APC leader in the state.
The group while rejecting Akpabio in his absence, dismissed the insinuation that there were factions in the party and urged all leaders of the party holding appointive positions to work for the overall interest and unity.
In a communique issued at end of the meeting, the stakeholders said, “That the stakeholders endorse the decision of the State Executive Committee (SEC) to declare as a nullity the unilateral proclamation and announcement of Senator Godswill Akpabio, as the State Party Leader of APC in gross violation of the Party’s Constitution in the unauthorised and illegal Stakeholders meeting of Sunday, March 28, 2021.
“That the Party hereby reminds every member and the general public that the State Chairman (or Caretaker Chairman as applicable here) is the Chairman of the State Caucus as provided for in Article 12.9 Sub (i) of the party Constitution (October 2014 As Amended) and remains the Party Leader in the State until further notice”.
Notable stakeholders who attended meeting included the National Caretaker Secretary of the APC, Senator John Akpanuodehe, Managing Director of the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone Authority, Obong Umana Okon Umana.
Others were the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang, the Sole Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Efiong Akwa, and Group Captain Sam Ewang(retd).
