By Ezeocha Nzeh
Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom state have warned the national leadership of the party to ensure that illegal delegates are not used during the upcoming Special convention and presidential primary of the party
The stakeholder alarted while briefing the media Wednesday in Abuja that the special convention of the ruling the party may be declared valid if it fails to address and resolve the governorship primaries issues in the state
Former minister of Petroleum, Don Etiebet who spoke on behalf of other party leaders from Akwa Ibom state, said a cabal has imposed an unacceptable candidate on Akwa Ibom APC, adding that the party will reject the imposition ahead of the 2023 general elections
He insisted that the imposed candidate, who did not win any election, at any congress monitored by INEC will vehemently be rejected by the party stakeholders in the state.
The former Petroleum Minister, who was flanked by the immediate past National Caretaker secretary of the party, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe and former House of Representatives member, Mrs Iquo Inyang, rejected the recently conducted governorship primaries in Akwa Ibom, saying that it was inconsistent with the provision of Section 84 (1) of the Electoral Act.
He therefore appealed to the leadership of party to intervene and have the situation the party from a looming doom in the state by conducting a fresh and of proper governorship primaries in line with Section 84 (1) of the Electoral Act, which will be monitored by INEC, warning that the party in Akwa Ibom state may not be in the position to present any validly nominated candidate in, except the issues are redressed immediately.
“We hasten to warn, that the Akwa Ibom State challenge of using delegates that were not voted for, in line with the extant Electoral Laws if not addressed, the same delegates maybe used for the Presidential primaries. Surely if that happens then the Presidential primaries run a risk of not producing a validly nominated candidate in line with the Electoral Laws. This should not happen.We fail to see what anyone stands to gain should this fate befall our great Party in Akwa Ibom State.
“To clear the coast for our Party to decide its fate properly, we decided not to dwell anymore on the issues in the court room of the Court of Appeal and have now decided to withdraw forthwith from participating in further proceedings at the Court of Appeal in respect of Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe’s Appeal. Happily, he has respected our opinion to withdraw the appeal, in the hope that the entire matter be submitted to the Party to review, and address based on the facts and circumstances on ground.
“We are all aware that the Panel sent from the National Headquarters of our great Party arrived the Victor Attah International Airport in a Private jet and was received by the Party’s South South Zonal Secretary. Thereafter they rode in convoy in a bus and were to go to the authorized INEC recognized Venue at Sheergrace Arena for the conduct of the gubernatorial primary election where all the accredited delegates had gathered.
“We therefore take this opportunity to appeal to the leadership of our great Party to intervene and have the situation redressed by directing the conduct of proper gubernatorial primaries in line with Section 84 (1) of the Electoral Act immediately before it is too late.
“Meanwhile, we call on all our Party faithful to remain calm and keep faith with the Party while we wait for the Party’s intervention.”
