The All Progressives Congress, APC Ward Congresses in Akwa-Ibom took place successfully.
According to the APC guidelines for the Congresses, if stakeholders cannot reach a consensus on selecting leaders, then an election should be held. A pre-congress meeting was held a day before where 95% of critical Akwa Ibom APC stakeholders including the 2015 Governorship candidate of the party, now Managing Director of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), Mr. Umana Umana; the 2019 Governorship candidate and former MD NDDC, Obong Nsima Ekere; Senator Nelson Effiong and the National Secretary of APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe who were on the same page and had a consensus arrangement amongst themselves in all the 329 wards of the state.
According to a press statement signed by the leader of the Akwa Ibom Progressives Liberation Movement, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ukoete, even though one stakeholder did not support the arrangement, the leaders used the consensus list to call for direct elections at the Congress.
“Only one of the APC Stakeholders did not support the arrangement overwhelming backed by majority of APC leaders in the state.The leaders therefore used the unity list to call for direct democratic elections during the Congresses” he said.
The exercise commenced at 1pm due to the restrictions of movement (7-10am) occasioned by the monthly sanitation exercise in the state and materials were distributed to the 329 Wards in the state.
Reports had it that some individuals gathered outside the State Secretariat and protested against the late commencement of the exercise, and made a bonfire outside the State Secretariat.
However, Hon. Ukoete said, “the situation was immediately brought under control by the security agents. The protesters were advised to go to their wards and desist from gathering at the secretariat where no elections was taking place there.The Secretariat was not burnt as reported in the social media.”
Suzan O
