October 17, (THEWILL) – The Akwa Ibom state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday witnessed at least three state chairmen produced in four parallel congresses held by separate factions in the state.
The confirmed three factions are those of the Niger Delta Affairs Minister,. Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senator Ita Enang and the national secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe.
THEWILL reports that Akpabio’s faction held its congress at the Kara Event Centre situated along the Goodluck Jonathan Boulevard, Uyo while Akpanudoedehe’s own held at the Sheergrace Events Centre.
It was observed that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and APC ad-hoc committee members monitored the congress held by Akpanudoedehe’s faction only.
Akpabio’s group elected Stephen Leo Ntukekpo as its state chairman, Austin Ekanem was elected the chairman of Akpanudoedehe’s faction, while Douglass People emerged the chairman for Senator Ita Enang’s group.
There are unconfirmed report that there was a fourth congress led by a chieftain of the party, Bishop Sam Akpan .
Speaking during the congresses held at Kara Event Centre, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang, said the different congresses are working for the party’s interest.
According to him, people sometimes disagree to agree, adding that at the end of the day, the APC would be positioned to take over the Hilltop Mansion House in 2023.
“I have seen other congresses going on, all are working for the APC. People must always disagree to agree but the most important thing is that we are all working for the party”.
Preaching peace and harmony, the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, called on party faithfuls not to mind the disagreement among the leaders of the party, assuring them that the disagreements would be settled in a round table.
He promised to work towards ensuring unity among the different party leaders in the state in order to position the party to take over power in 2023
“The election committee led by Sheriff Banky , earlier I’ve gone to sheer grace and I addressed them, when I was passing here, l saw many of our party faithfuls and all the delegates I had to stop by to address you and I said I must find out what is going on, I want you to note today, do not look at the disagreement of the elders, because every war whether first world war or second world war was settled at the round table and many of you will not be there when the war will be settled.
“But one thing is sure, I brought the message of peace.Now you are wrestling power from a sitting government don’t take it for granted, it’s not a tea party, no single group can do it alone, we must do it together, but one thing we can resolve is, never again shall we be in opposition in 2023 and we should be wise in electing who will lead us,” he noted.
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