The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended both the state’s Central Working Committee of its caretaker committee and the convention planning committee.
As statement by the State Executive Committee said the suspension was necessitated by the failure of the affected committees to adhere to the guidelines of the recently concluded ward congresses across the country.
A communiqué at the end of the SEC meeting on August 3 accused the state’s convention planning committee of plunging the state party into avoidable crises by disregarding the guidelines which were clearly spelt out by the national body.
The communiqué reads, “WHEREAS the State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress is a creation and creature of Article 12.8 of the Constitution of the All Progressives Congress and its membership is provided in Article 12.8(i) to (xxx) of the same constitution
“Arising from the failure to hold the Statewide Party Ward Congress, the State Executive Committee in its meeting of 1st August 2021 and acting in accordance with the powers vested on it by the provisions of Article 13.7(i),(v),(vi),(vii) for supervisory and disciplinary powers over the State Working Committee and other relevant organs of the party within the State,
in its meeting on aforementioned which had in attendance a former Governor, former National Assembly members, former and serving House of Assembly members, former members of the State Working Committee of the Party, and 17 serving Local Government Party Chapter Chairmen, 17 serving Local Government Party Chapter Secretaries and 17serving Local Government party Chairmen of Ward Chairmen suspended all members of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the Party and the State Caretaker/Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee.
“REASONS FOR SUSPENSION
Whereas the All Progressives Congress in its public notice titled, “TIMETABLE/GUIDELINES FOR JULY 31, 2021 WARD CONGRESSES”, published on or about July 18, 2021 by the National Secretary of the Caretaker/Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) – Senator John Udoedeghe stated that:
“(i) Each State shall have a committee of seven (7) persons selected based on integrity to be known as Ward Congress Committee – WCC (Chairman, Secretary and 5 others)
“(ii)The Ward Congress committee shall appoint three (3) persons as Local Ward Congress Committee who shall be responsible for the conduct of the screening and the congress.
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“The screening was scheduled for 29th to 30th July 2021. The venues for the congress was ward centres and members were to be notified of such centres within 12 hours before commencement of the congress.
“Further to the guidelines highlighted above, the State Publicity Secretary of the Party as he then was, Mr. Nkereuwem Enyongekere, on Thursday July 29th, 2021 through a public notice captioned “NOTICE OF APC WARD CONGRESS IN AKWA IBOM STATE”, unequivocally affirmed that the ward congress shall be by direct election (option A4) across the 329 wards in Akwa Ibom State.
“We note that the guidelines highlighted above were completely breached thus:
“(a) Aspirants for the Ward Executive positions who paid money into the bank accounts designated by the party and obtained tellers in lieu for positions they were contesting were not screened nor avail any opportunity to participate in any democratic process of election
“(b)The aspirants who were not screened either on the dates stipulated on the congress guidelines or any other date known to us were disenfranchised and fraudulently schemed.
“(c) Regrettably, some aspirants did not even access the Forms which they paid for.
“(d) Members of the APC in Akwa Ibom State were not notified of the time and venue of the Congress as stated in the congress guidelines
“(e) Ward congress was not held at any of the 329 ward centers in Akwa Ibom State on the stipulated date.
“The mischievous dereliction and criminal negligence of responsibilities by the State Working Committee(SWC)members of the Party triggered the urgent need for the intervention of the SEC, hence, the suspension of members of the State Working Committee who are by extension members of the State Caretaker/Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee and subordinated to the State Executive Committee of the Party as contained in Article 13.7(vii)
“For emphasis, the State Executive Committee has suspended the SWC and State Caretaker/Extra Ordinary Convention Center Planning Committee for conflict of interest, ethical misconduct, disenfranchisement, dereliction of responsibilities and breach of confidence in failure to abide by the guidelines of the congress and conduct of the congress, which they have caused members of the APC in Akwa Ibom State.
“Consequently, the State Executive Committee has appointed a new leadership(see annexed list)to pilot the affairs of the party in acting capacity pending when disciplinary actions would be concluded on the suspended and erstwhile members of the State Working Committee of the Party and the State Caretaker/Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee.
“State Executive Committee also pass a vote of no confidence on the National Secretary of the Caretaker/Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) – Senator John Udoedeghe, over his failure to lead by example by ensuring that guidelines for the ward congress are followed stricto sensu and congress held in his State, Akwa Ibom.
“State Executive Committee hereby call on the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who is the leader of the Party in Akwa Ibom State, the SSA (Niger Delta Affairs) to the President and other very respected members of the Party to work with the Acting State Working Committee in liaison with the National Executive Committee of the Party to fix a date where ward congress would be conducted in the State.
“State Executive Committee has passed a vote of confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari and reiterated its confidence in his leadership
“WE ARE
1.H.E.(Grp. Capt) Sam Ewang
2.Rt Hon Eseme Eyiboh, former MHR
3.Rt.Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo, former MHR
4.Hon(Dr)Emaeyak Ukpong, former MHR
5.Rt Hon Ema Bassey – former MHR
6.Hon Abom Tonie Esu,- former MHR
7.Hon Patty Etete Ineme former MHR
8.Hon Prince Nyong former MHR
9.Rt Hon Bassey Etim, former – MHR
10.Rt.Hon Bassey Essien(former Speaker AKHA)
11.Hon Effiong Johnson – Serving -AKHA
12.Hon Nkereuwem O Dan former MHR
13.Hon Ubong Etiebet – former MHR
14.Hon Akpabio Ukpa (former Majority Whip, AKHA)
15.Bishop Ekpe James – former Council Chairman
16.Dr Effiong Etuk – former Party State Secretary
17.Obonganwan Glory Effiong – former State Women Leader
18.Obonganwan Geraldine Etuk – former State Women Leader
19.Hon (Mrs) Gloria Useh former LGCouncil Chairperson,
20.Barr Chris Okorie – former LGCouncil Chairman
21.Dr Chris Akpan -former Commissioner/LGCouncil Chairman
22.Rt Hon Gabriel Toby -AKHA
23.Hon Victor Udofia – AKHA
24.Hon Idongesit Ntuen AKHA
25.Hon Victor Antai -former Council Chairman/Commissioner,
26.Edidiong Joseph Idio. Chapter Chairman Etim Ekpo LGA . 080237155028.
27.Engr Ifiok T Udoh. Chapter Chairman,Nsit Atai LGA.09147131602
28.Bassey Effiong Udo. Chapter Chairman,Uruan LGA.08132858918
29.Hon Ubong Ekpo,Chapter Chairman,Ikot Abasi LGA.07066156498.
30.Elder Ubong Inyany, Chapter Chairman, Ikono LGA.08025131188
31.Hon Augustus A Nkuseying, Chapter Chairman Esit Eket LGA. 08035653157
32.Mr Akaingene Ukpanah.Chapter Chairman, Ukanafun LGA.08027479733
33.Hon Nkereuwem Edet Okpok. Chapter Chairman Nsit Ibom LGA..08023418218
34.Elder Daniel Ekanem. Chapter Chairman Ikot Ekpene LGA. 08063428479
35.Elder Anthony Toby Akpan. Chapter Chairman, Uruk Anam.LGA.08132858918 36.Elder Sunday Wilson. Chapter Chairman, Ika LGA.08131128905 37.Emmanuel Samuel Akpan ,Chapter Chairman, Ibeno LGA.. 08064315970
38.Hon Samuel Mbosoh. Chapter Chairman, Onna LGA 08138165169
39.Hon Okon Toby Ebione. Chapter Chairman ,Oron LGA.07083145318.
40.Hon Emmanuel Udoh. Chapter Chairman.Mkpat-Enin LGA.07035151090
41.Mr David Umoh. Chapter Chairman ,Ibiono Ibom LGA .08035827657
42.Joseph Sam, Chapter Chairman.Ibesikpo Asutan.LGA.0806894402
43.Mr Kufre Umoh former LGCouncil Chairman, Ukanafun
44.Dr David Umoessien former LGCouncil Chairman, Ukanafun