*chairman pledges purposeful driven leadership
By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
The State Executive Committee (SEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Akwa Ibom State chapter has been inaugurated to pilot the affairs of the party in the state for another four years. The inauguration took place on Friday at State Secretariat of the Party, 149 Ikot Ekpene Road, Uyo, the State Capital.
A total of 35 officers inaugurated were elected on October 16, 2021 at a Congress Conducted by the Seven-man Congress Committee led by Alhaji Yusuf Banki Sheriff.
The new State Chairman, Mr Augustine Ekanem who performed the inauguration, was earlier on February 3, 2022, sworn-in in Abuja at the National Headquarters of the party, thus bringing the number to 36 elected officers.
In his address delivered at the inaugural ceremony in Uyo, Mr. Ekanem said that the exercise was a call to duty to mobilise Akwa Ibom public towards achieving the focus of the party.
This, he added include taking over power from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state in 2023 and forming an APC led state government to bring about positive change to the citizens.
The new State Chairman further pledged to work toward bringing various groups within the party together and charged the new members of SEC to close ranks and work hard at marketing the vision and programmes of APC to Akwa Ibomites to bring more support to the party.
Ekanem who thanked stakeholders for supporting the party, took a brief review of strategic engagements by the party ahead of the 2023 general elections. He told members of the party who had thronged the party secretariat that APC was opened to accommodating new interest groups within the state who may wish to join the party.
“On our honour, we shall commit to and do everything humanly possible to leverage on our diverse individual knowledge and collective experience in partisan politics to reposition our great party in the state with particular emphasis on winning future electoral contest.
“We shall ensure the implementation of the policies and programmes of our great party as enshrined in its Constitution anchored on equity, justice and fairness. Particularly, we shall ensure that party members and residents of the state take full benefit and advantage of the various social investment programmes initiated by the APC led federal government.”
However he said, “I will ensure that under my watch, the Party shall not condone indiscipline, recalcitrant behaviours or conducts inimical to the interest of the Party. The Party shall not hesitate to take disciplinary actions against anyone found to offend the Constitution and/or the prescribed conduct of the Party.”
Earlier, the outgoing State Chairman, Dr Ita Udosen thanked the outgoing State Executive officers and entire members of the party for the support he enjoyed as Chairman of the party. Dr Udosen recalled some sad moments the party encountered including the demise of her State Chairman, Mr. Ini Okopido and thanked God that the Party has remained strong and united with demonstrated commitment by her members, leaders and stakeholders to win the forth coming governorship poll in the state.
He further called for total support to the new Augustine Ekanem led exco to drive the Party to victory in 2023 and beyond.
Goodwill messages were delivered by eminent party leaders including His Grace, Arch Bishop Samuel Akpan, Leader of APC Coalition, AAC, Akwa Ibom State.
In a brief interaction with the journalists, Mr. Solomon Johnny, who was inaugurated as the State Publicity Secretary of the Party said the new State Exco is rejuvenated to provide leadership for APC in the State and mobilise voters to vote for the party to win the next general election.
He pledged a robust engagement between APC and the media in order to communicate the party programmes to enable the masses make informed choices on good leadership the populace yearned for.
Some of the new State Executive Committee members include, Mr Augustine Ekanem as Chairman, Prince Uwemedimo Ekanem as Deputy Chairman, Mr. Nkereuwen Enyongekere as State Secretary, Mr. Cletus Dick as State Assistant Secretary, Mr. Aniefiok Jackson, State Zonal Vice Chairman (1), Mr Joseph Gregory Ekerete, State Zonal Chairman (11), Dr Inyang Abia, State Zonal Chairman(111) representing Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Eket Senatorial Districts respectively. Barr. Tom Essien Udonsek, Legal Adviser, Bar Sam Inyangude, Assistant State Legal Adviser, Elder Imo Ukpe as Treasurer.
