By, PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
In Akwa Ibom State, three chairmen emerged from parallel congressess of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held on Saturday at different centres in Uyo, the state capital, thus telling more of the crisis situations in the Party.
The three factions are those of the Niger Delta Affairs Minister,. Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senator Ita Enang and that of National Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe.
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 Committee members monitored the congress held by Akpanudoedehe’s faction only.
Akpabio’s group elected Mr. Stephen Leo Ntukekpo as it’s state chairman, Mr. Austin Ekanem was elected as chairman of of Akpanudoedehe’s faction while Mr. Douglass People emerged for Senator Ita Enang’s group.
Akpabio and Ita Enang, it was learnt, had visited the congress venue of Akpanudoedehe’s camp perhaps to seek reconciliation and harmonization of the two congresses.
Speaking during one of the congresses held at Kara Event Centre, the Senior Special Assistant to the President Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang, said however that the different congresses are working for the interest of the party.
According to him people must always disagree to agree amongst themselves adding that at the end of the day 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.”
The Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, in his remarks called on party faithful not to look at the disagreement among the leaders of the party, assuring that such 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 take over power in 2023
He said “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.”
