Monday February 23, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng
All Progressives Congress (APC) members protesting the conduct of the party congresses have been admonished to remain calm by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Akpabio spoke when the aggrieved party members stormed his Shelter Afrique, Uyo residence with their grievances.
They were told to remain calm as their grievances would be communicated to the Senate President, who, according to his personal aide on Political Matters, was still in bed, but with a word of assurances that the anomalies would be corrected.
And for the timely intervention of security agencies, bloodshed would have characterised the just concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) chapter congresses in some local government areas including Mkpat Enin, Esit Eket and other LGAs, LEADERSHIP gathered at the weekend.
At the centre of the dispute, our correspondent learnt, was the refusal of some key stakeholders in Mkpat Enin LGA, including the State APC Chairman, Obong Stephen Ntukekpo; the commissioner for works and political leader of the the zone, Prof. Eno Ibanga, and the House of Assembly member for the area, Hon. Uwem Imo Ita, who have been accused of failing to implement the party resolutions, because of alleged vested interests.
“The decision from the party at the centre was that the former chapter Executive members should be returned, but the State Chairman of the APC, Stephen Ntukekpo; the Commissioner for Works, Prof. Eno Ibanga, and House of Assembly member, Hon. Uwem Imo Ita, met in Uyo to draw up a fresh list of executives without consulting critical stakeholders from Mkpat Enin,” Comrade Ukpong Akpan, a youths’ activist explained.
“The move has contradicted an earlier resolution reached by party leaders in the area to retain existing ward and chapter executives for another four-year term, because of their tested loyalty and performance,” he recalled.
Sources within the party disclosed that prior to the February 18 and 21, 2026 congresses, an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting held on February 14 in Uyo had overwhelmingly endorsed the continuity of the current party structures.
The meeting, convened by the Executive Chairman of Mkpat Enin LGA and Local Government Coordinator of Party Affairs, Hon. Emmanuel Inyang, reportedly adopted a vote of confidence on the existing executives.
Prominent figures who endorsed the resolution of the meeting, it was learnt, included; Senator Ekong Sampson, Rt. Hon. Bernard Udoh, Hon. Otobong Ndem, Hon. Victor Ekwere, and council Chairman, Hon. Emmanuel Inyang.
Others were; former council chairmen; Hon. (Elder) Akparawa Udosam Umoatan, Hon. Ekanem Brown, Aniekpon Ekpo; South South Representative, North Central Development Commission, Obonganwan Rachael KufreAbasi Nse and Stakeholder and BoT Chairman, OML13, Mkpat Enin, Prince Nseobong Essien.
However, the alleged absence of Ntukekpo, Ibanga and Ita from that stakeholders’ meeting, and reports that they later compiled separate new lists in Uyo, ignited outrage among party faithful in Mkpat Enin, when stakeholders had agreed at a meeting that the current structures of the party, as duly constituted is tested, trusted, united and should be retained except, where there is need for changes or addition in the composition of the Excos at the congresses.
They further maintained that, the trio did not even adhere to the decision of the party that seven from the already existing 27 member party structures should be re-jigged with new members to accommodate the new entrants for equity, while 20 from the old Exco remained.
Party insiders claimed that as tension mounted at the congress venue, the trio hurriedly left the area and could not publicly present the purported list to the aggrieved members, thereby preventing what many feared could have degenerated into a violent confrontation.
Some party members accused Prof. Ibanga of introducing clannish considerations into party affairs, alleging that his actions were capable of destabilising the APC in Mkpat Enin barely months after joining the party.
Others argued that sidelining certain clans, including Ibiaku, in the distribution of party offices would amount to political injustice and exclusion.
And as such, Ikpa Ikono Clan has currently produced a senator; Ikpa Ibom Clan, the Local Government Chairman; Ukpum Minya has the State Chairman of APC, Commissioner for Works and Fire Service and House Member, while Ibiaku has zero, and it would be expedient for the position of chapter chairman of the party to be retained in Ibiaku Clan for equity and balance.
The fallout led to a boycott of the Saturday congress by several high-profile stakeholders, including former Deputy Governor Lady Valerie Ebe, former council chairmen and other senior party figures.
Amid the tension, Senator Sampson reportedly intervened to calm frayed nerves, assuring party members that their grievances would be addressed through appropriate channels.
He also commended Senate president Godswill Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno for their broader efforts at stabilising party structures across the state.
In contrast, party congresses in Ikot Abasi and Eastern Obolo LGAs, checks revealed, were conducted peacefully, with existing executives returned unopposed to serve another four-year term.
(Leadership)
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