The crisis in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom worsened on Saturday with the emergence of three factional chairmen during the State Congress.
There were unconfirmed reports that there was a fourth congress led by a chieftain, Bishop Sam Akpan.
The three factions belonged to Niger Delta Affairs Minister Senator Godswill Akpabio; presidential aide Senator Ita Enang and 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 faction held at the Sheergrace Events Centre.
The Nation 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 chairman while Mr. Austin Ekanem was elected as chairman of Akpanudoedehe’s faction with Mr. Douglass People emerging 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 at Kara Event Centre, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang, said that the different congresses were working for the interest of the party.
According to him, people must always disagree to agree, 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,” he stressed.
Akpabio, on his part, 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 leaders in the state 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”.
