Succession Crisis Brews In A’Ibom APC
Crisis is brewing in the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as some stakeholders in the party begin to plot on the emergence of a substantive chairman for the state chapter, following the death of Obong Ime Okopido, who has since been buried.
The party is currently being led by Dr Ita Udosen in acting capacity. Plans to stage-manage the Chairmanship position of All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom State for selfish interest have been uncovered, TNN investigation has shown.
Investigation by our newspaper shows that following the untimely demise of Obong Ini Okopido, some APC political heavyweights are plotting to ensure that the seat is occupied by someone from the Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika federal Constituency. Okopido hailed from Ika Local Government Area of the Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika federal Constituency.
However, it was learnt that there are certain chieftains of the party who believe that the current acting chairman should be allowed to remain in office.
This is coming at a time that the party has, by default, zoned the governorship seat to the Uyo Senatorial District. The concern of other stakeholders is that if the next governor would come from Uyo district, the party cannot also come from the same area.
”This will be the greatest undoing of the party and the Uyo Federal Constituency because governorship position is to be purportedly zoned to them. Where this is allowed to happen, then the party is heading towards a rock because people over there are wiser now,” a chieftain of the party said.
It is generally known that APC State Chairmanship seat was said to have been zoned to Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district in 2014. Dr. Amadu Attai from Ukanafun-Oruk Anam federal Constituency held the position from 2014 to 2018, another source told TNN.
The source added that the position was later shifted to Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika federal Constituency and Okopido held the position from 2018 to 2020 before his passage into eternity. Later, the party was dissolved to give room for caretaker committee arrangement.
”For purpose of fairness and equity, it is generally believed that former Abak should retain the position. Be that as it may, naturally the position should return to Ukanafun-Oruk Anam Federal Constituency where Ukanafun person will occupy the position while Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency will take the Senate slot in 2023,” he noted.
In an interview, a former governorship aspirant and chieftain of the party, Uduakobong Okpoho told TNN over the telephone on Sunday night that it was not in his place to say where the next chairman of the party would come from, but was quick to add that even though the acting chairman was qualified to present himself for the position, it would be detrimental to the zoning position of the party, since the governor was expected to come from the same senatorial district where he comes from.
