Senate President Godswill Akpabio has been accused by founding members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State of betraying the party by reportedly collaborating with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to undermine the APC in order to secure his reelection to the Senate.
Jackson Udom, Akpabio’s Special Assistant on Media, however, brushed the accusations aside as “beer parlour rumors.”
According to reports, the disgruntled party members wrote President Bola Tinubu an open letter outlining their grievances and pleading with him to step in before the Akwa Ibom party disintegrates.
Elder Okokon James of the Uyo Senatorial District, Peter Ibanga of the Eket Senatorial District, and Chief Victor Affiah of the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District all signed the letter.
“Worrisome State of APC in Akwa Ibom State: A Call for Your Urgent Intervention” was the heading of the letter, which accused Akpabio of conspiring with PDP leaders to harm the state’s APC.
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The signatories said that Ekperikpe Ekpo, the minister of petroleum, and Stephen Ntukekpo, the state chairman of the APC, had publicly acknowledged that they had obeyed Akpabio’s order to destabilize the party in preparation for the 2027 elections.
“As the founding fathers of the APC in Akwa Ibom, we have never witnessed this degree of self-centeredness, greed, treachery, and betrayal,” the statement continues. APC members are disillusioned because the state’s APC structure was sold to the PDP government.
We have learned that Senator Akpabio has been promised the support of the PDP for his third-term aspirations in return for this betrayal. There won’t be any party members left to welcome Mr. President when he travels to Akwa Ibom for the 2027 campaigns if immediate action is not taken.
The chieftains also denied reports that Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno was preparing to join the APC, claiming that APC officials were undermining their own party while Eno was bolstering the PDP.
“It is shocking that the APC structure in a state where the Senate President is from is in complete disarray,” they said. Akpabio hasn’t demonstrated much dedication to backing President Tinubu’s bid for a second term after joining the APC.
Before the 2027 election, they cautioned, devoted party members in the state would be compelled to join an opposition coalition if the APC national leadership does not act quickly.
“Baseless Allegations” is how Akpabio’s assistant dismisses claims.
Jackson Udom, Akpabio’s media assistant, responded to the accusations by dismissing them as a purposeful effort to sow division between the APC and PDP in Akwa Ibom.
The APC is still powerful in the state of Akwa Ibom. “Those who want to incite needless tension between the APC and PDP, led by Senator Akpabio, are making these accusations,” he stated.
According to him, Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno have a cordial working relationship, and as a result, their political rivals are circulating lies.
“Politics is far beyond these baseless accusations,” Udom continued. These people are now claiming that the APC has been sold out because of the peace and harmony that exist between Akpabio and Governor Eno. Let them hold off until the start of the campaign season.
