2027: APC stakeholders accuse Akpabio, others of betraying party for PDP alliance in A’Ibom

Some stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State have raised concerns over what they describe as a troubling alliance between key APC leaders and the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP). 

In an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, they accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio, APC state chairman Stephen Ntukekpo, and Minister of Petroleum (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo of compromising the party’s integrity in exchange for PDP’s support for Akpabio’s alleged 2027 third-term senatorial ambition.

The letter, titled “The Worrisome State of the APC in Akwa Ibom State: A Call for Your Intervention,” was jointly signed by Elder Okokon James (Uyo Senatorial District), Peter Ibanga (Eket Senatorial District), and Chief Victor Affiah (Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District).

The stakeholders expressed deep concerns over what they described as the “sale of the party’s soul” to the PDP, warning that this could jeopardize the APC’s future in Akwa Ibom.

They called on President Tinubu to urgently intervene and restore the party’s credibility in the state.

A copy of the letter, made available to newsmen on Sunday in Uyo, reads in part:

“We, the founding fathers of the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom State, are compelled to write this open letter to you.

“The state chairman of the party, Mr. Stephen Ntukekpo, and the Minister of Petroleum (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, are openly declaring that they were directed by the Senate President to cripple the party in the state, giving the PDP an easy ride to victory in the 2027 polls in exchange for PDP’s support for the Senate President’s third-term ambition.

“We want to assure Mr. President that if urgent action is not taken to revive and strengthen the party in the state, there won’t be party members left to receive you when you visit next year to campaign.

“The soul and spirit of the party in the state have been sold to the PDP-led government, and as a result, party members are gearing up to join an upcoming opposition coalition against your second-term ambition.

“How can party members be mobilized for you when the party itself has been intentionally crippled by the Senate President and his close allies? It is unbelievable that the party is dead in a state that produces the Senate President and the Minister of Petroleum Resources.”

The APC stakeholders described Akpabio’s actions as a betrayal of confidence and treachery against the party, which provided the platform for his Senate Presidency.

“Should members of the party in the state move en masse to the opposition coalition against your second-term ambition, hold the Senate President and the Minister of Petroleum (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, responsible,” they asserted.

They further warned that Governor Umo Eno would neither join the APC nor commit to Tinubu’s second-term ambition, stating:

“While Governor Umo Eno and his team are strengthening their party daily, our party leaders are doing nothing to show that APC still exists in the state.”

However, responding on Sunday, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Senate President, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, dismissed the allegations as spurious and mischievous.

“The writers of the letter are non-existent and not known to the party. Their allegations are spurious and mischievous.

“The Senate President has strengthened the party through various appointments he has secured for members. Do you call that working against the party?” Eyiboh said.