Aggrieved Governorship Aspirants, Elders Seek Buhari’s Intervention As Akwa Ibom APC Crisis Takes New Turn

The crisis currently rocking the Akwa Ibom State wing of All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a turn for the worse. Some concerned players of the party told NaijaNews on Friday night in Uyo, the state capital, that except President Muhammadu Buhari intervenes immediately, the party would be destroyed by some ‘’vested interests’’.

The push for President Buhari’s intervention is coming as some aggrieved governorship aspirants on Friday disassociated themselves from the purported primaries that was said to have produced Akan Udofia, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain.

Udofia is alleged to be foisted on the party by the immediate past Niger Delta Affairs Minister and a presidential aspirant of APC, Godswill Akpabio.

Irked, a resigned Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang, a prominent businessman, Austin Utuk, and other governorship aspirants in a statement say they are displeased because of ‘’flagrant irregularities and disregard for security advice by the DSS director in the state, Mohammed Kaumi.’’

Kaumi, according to them, advised the primaries committee to suspend the exercise “since there was no security assurances’’ at the party secretariat situated along Ekpo Obot Street, Uyo.

Continuing, they said while they were at the party secretariat,’’it became apparent that the primary would be marred by incongruous irregularities. Most of the delegates felt threatened by the disorderly manner of nocturnal movements and faces at the party Secretariat. This was around 01:00 am, when reasonable men were resting in their homes.

“Delegates from Uyo, Uruan, Ibiono, and Mkpat Enin, among other local government areas were disenfranchised. The panel and those who masterminded the sham feared that votes from these LGAs could cause a rupture against their antics.”

Adding, the aggrieved governorship aspirants said, “no APC primaries known to the law was conducted” as the alleged farce process was executed around 01: 00 am “when reasonable men were resting in their homes.’’

While declaring their lack of confidence in the person of the Chairman and members of the Primaries Election panel, they pressed for the annulment of the exercise, insisting, “we categorically state that if the illegally conducted election is not cancelled, we shall explore all relevant legal mercenaries to ensure that justice is done.”

Earlier on Friday morning, some APC members woke up to the shocking news that their governorship primaries have been conducted.

“When did they hold the election? I left the secretariat at about 9 pm. We were not briefed but only heard that the vehicle carrying materials and officials from Abuja was intercepted by touts loyal to Udoedehe’’, says Mrs Imelda Udoh.

Meanwhile, the aggrieved aspirants have further expressed concerns that those who declared Akan Udofia as APC governorship candidate failed to resolved alleged ‘’lingering irregularities’’ surrounding his presence at PDP primaries as an aspirant, his formal defection to APC, his date of registration and mandatory one-year preconditions.

With some other APC elders in the state, the aggrieved aspirants are calling on Abuja to wade into the crisis in a frantic bid to salvage the party from those “perpetually working for APC’s failure in Akwa Ibom.”

According to them, the interest of those stoking the fire in the party is to benefit from appointments. At the national level, noting that the alleged ‘’destructive elements do so to reap selfish interest at the detriment of a grassroots loyalists who bear rejection, denial and stark poverty after losing to PDP.’’