Youths torch secretariat as crisis rocks Akwa Ibom APC ward congresses

Crisis has rocked the ward congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom following the alleged insistence of the National Secretary of the party’s Caretaker Committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe to have a consensus arrangement.

A group known as the APC Elders Forum led by a former military administrator of Rivers and Ogun states, Group Captain Sam Ewang (retd), had called for free and fair elective ward congresses instead of a consensus.

However, the congresses, which were supposed to take place in the 329 wards in the state, did not hold due to the absence of election materials.

It was gathered materials for the congresses did not arrive at the party secretariat even as National officers from Abuja were not sent to conduct the congresses.

Angered by the situation, youths of the party went on rampage on Saturday setting ablaze some sections of the state party Secretariat located along Ikot Ekpene.

The party’s flags were also torched.

The youths carried placards with the inscription;”Udodehe you can’t hijack our party” and ”we want a free and fair congresses not consensus” among others.

A member of the party from Etinan local government area, Mr. UduakAbasi Ikpatt said there were no congresses in any of the wards in Etinan due to the absence of materials.

Ikpatt blamed Udoedehe for the situation insisting that the right thing must be done if the party is to remain one ahead of the 2023 elections in the state.

However, spokesperson of the party in the state, Nkereuwem Enyongekere, said the ward congresses went on smoothly without any hitch.

”The congresses took place in the 329 ward centres and not at the APC state secretariat in Uyo so what materials are they complaining about? The congresses have been concluded. If you want video clips of my own I will send it to you,” he said.

On allegation of Udoedehe trying to hijack the party, Enyongekere said: ”Hijack what? This is the most transparent congress ever conducted in Akwa Ibom state, very democratic. Otherwise from the inception of this state it has always been writing of names”.

(The Nation)