A’Ibom APC Sacks State Chairman, Ors •••Passes No Confidence Vote On Udoedehe

•••Says Ward Congress Did Not Hold in A’Ibom

 By Michael Ufot

In what they described as negligence of responsibilities and breach of ward congress guidelines, the State Executive Committee of the All Progressive Congress in Akwa Ibom State have suspended its acting Chairman, Dr Ita Udosen and other members of the State Working Committee of the Party indefinitely. The party also passed a vote of no confidence on its National Secretary, Sen. John Udoedehe for his alleged role in the disunity of APC as well as usurping the party structure and powers for his selfish interest in Akwa Ibom State.

Addressing journalists in a press briefing held at the NUJ State Secretariat in Uyo yesterday, the party SEC members, who were led by a national caucus member of the party, Group Capt. Sam Ewang (rtd), explained its legality on the power to suspend the SWC members in the State as thus:

“Article 13.7 of the party constitution places the State Executive Committee as one of the primary organs of the party, which constitute of serving and former president, governor, National Assembly members, members of the State House of Assembly as well as Chairmen and Secretaries of the party at local government level.  The State Executive Council can exercise control and take disciplinary actions on all organs of the party, and determine appeals brought by any member or organs of the party within the state.”

He mentioned that the guidelines for the conduct of the ward congress in Akwa Ibom State were observed in breach as there was no screening of the potential aspirants for the contests, noting with dismay that the suspended State Working Committee of APC in Akwa Ibom State neglected their responsibilities

“The State Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr Nkereuwem Enyongekere published a notice on Thursday July 29, 2021 through a public notice captioned NOTICE OF APC WARD CONGRESS IN AKWA IBOM STATE. He unequivocally affirmed that the ward congress shall be direct by a democratically elected elections across the 329 wards in the state.”

“The State Executive Committee have noted that the guidelines for the ward congress were observed in breach in Akwa Ibom State. There was no screening. The issue of screening, payments for the forms, presentation and strict adherence of the congress guidelines is in the heart of legitimacy of the ward congress. The State Working Committee as they were, neglected their responsibilities. So, the State Executive Committee in observing this, that there was total absence of any congress within the All Progressive Congress in Akwa Ibom State. This adjudication of responsibility by the SWC triggered the urgent need for intervention of the State Executive Committee of the Party, hence the suspension of the erstwhile former members of the State Working Committee for the negligence that gave right to the non-conduct of the congress, and by that action, they have not only inflicted the reputation challenge on the conduct of the congress, but have departed from the known integrity foundation that APC is noted for. The former State Working Committee members are suspended in compliance with the relevance section”. He stated.

he reiterated that APC in Akwa Ibom State have not conducted any ward congress in the State, describing the news of the purported congress on social media as an elevated propaganda intended to mislead the gullible public.

Ewang however called on President Muhammadu Buhari, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senator Ita Enang, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma and other eminent stakeholders to rescue the party in the State from imminent disintegration.

” We call on President Muhammadu Buhari, in his capacity as the leader of the party in Nigeria, to call to order the Akwa Ibom APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Dr. Ita Udosen, who has shamelessly been operating as though he is a domestic staff of Senator John Udoedehe.

” We unanimously reject in totality the deployment of Senator John Udoedehe’s Man Friday and apologist, Mallam Shehu Sheriff, from Abuja to superintend the conduct of ward congresses in Akwa Ibom State.

Those suspended are: 

 

Dr Ita Udosen, State Chairman, 

 

Uwemedimoh Essien, Deputy

 

Austin Ekanem - Secretary, 

 

Okon Owoefiok - Treasurer, 

 

Nkereuwem Enyongekere, Publicity Secretary,

 

 Louis Udoh - State Youth Leader,

 

 Rt Hon. Aboh Uduyok - Organising Secretary, 

 

Dr Inyang Abia, Eket Sen chairman,  

 

Aniefiok Jackson, Uyo Sen chairman, 

 

Cosmas Ibanga - Ikot EKPENE Sen chairman, 

 

Uwem Ikamaenyin - physically challenged Leader, 

 

Magdalene Akpabio - Women Leader, 

 

Eld Imoh Effiong Ukpe - Fin Secretary, 

 

Rosemary Harry - State Auditor, 

 

Chief Sunny Ibanga - Welfare Secretary, 

 

Barr Udonsek - Legal Adviser

 

 

They State Executive Committee however announced a new State Working Committee members to include the following:

 

Pst Edidiong Idio - State Chairman

 

Nkereuwem Okpok - Ag. Deputy Chairman,

 

 Hon Ubong Ekpo Ag. Secretary