Stakeholders from Abak five political bloc under the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial district, have refuted claims made by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Atuekong Etiebet, that they had withdrawn their support for the aspiration of Bola Tinubu and Senator Akpabio.
It will be recalled that Etiebet, an APC stalwart, alleged that stakeholders from the region had reached a consensus not to support Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem because Akpabio had refused to step down for the candidacy of Abak-5.
The stakeholders called on residents of the senatorial district to disregard Etiebet’s statement, describing it as self-serving and dead on arrival.
Convener of the meeting and a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, in a communique signed with other stakeholders and made available to our correspondent in Uyo on Tuesday, disclosed that the meeting comprised of officials of the party from old Abak division; chairmen of the party in the five chapters; 55 ward chairmen; candidates of APC; and other relevant stakeholders from the old Abak division.
“Stakeholders of APC in Abak-five note with grave sadness the spurious claims of Atuekong Etiebet which noted that stakeholders in the region had reached a resolution not to support Akpabio and questions how he arrived at such.
“We reject the purported resolution by Atuekong Etiebet that Abak-five should support a candidate of another political party other than APC. We view this reckless decision as an anti-party act that should not be condoned under any guise.
“As APC members from Abak-five, we disassociate ourselves from the statement credited to Atuekong Etiebet that Abak-five will support the senatorial candidate of PDP in the forthcoming National Assembly elections scheduled for February 25 with particular reference to the candidacy of Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district,” the statement read in part.
They expressed support for Akpabio and the presidential candidate of the party, Tinubu.
“We, the stakeholders of APC from Abak-five endorse all candidates of APC beginning with Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President; Obong Akanimo Udofia as Governor; Senator Godswill Akpabio for Senate; all House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates of APC.”
The stakeholders call on the national chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the state chairman of the party, Obong Stephen Ntukekpo and other leaders in the party to sanction Etiebet for engaging in anti-party activities.
