The lingering political wrangling in Akwa Ibom State All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a new twist with the expulsion of Ita Enang, the immediate past Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs.
This came six days after the Court of Appeal in Abuja ruled that Akanimo Udofia was the APC governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State for the 2023 election.
Udofia had challenged APC and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Appeal Court, Abuja but joined Enang for inclusion of his name among governorship candidates.
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Enang had earlier obtained a judgement from Federal High Court, Uyo disqualifying Udofia from the race and barring him from contesting the governorship primary election.
A letter of expulsion surfaced online showing that the APC had expelled Mr Enang from the party.
The letter, signed by the APC Chairperson in Akwa Ibom, Stephen Ntukekpo, dated January 24, 2023 and addressed to the chairperson of the APC in Mr Enang’s ward in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of the state, said Mr Enang was expelled because of his litigation over the party governorship ticket.
Mr Enang, a former Senator who represented Uyo Senatorial District, iterated desire to be heading to the Supreme Court to challenge the Court of Appeal judgment on the Akwa Ibom APC governorship ticket.
The APC accused Mr Enang of working secretly for the Peoples Democratic Party.
Mr Ntukekpo, in the letter, said the State Working Committee of the APC acted on a petition written against Mr Enang.
The expulsion letter is genuine, Mr Ntukekpo told PREMIUM TIMES, Tuesday evening.
Mr Enang, however, told this newspaper he was not aware of his expulsion.
In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, the APC governorship candidate in the state, Mr Udofia, asked him if Mr Enang’s expulsion was not likely to cause more crisis in the party.
“I don’t know why you are asking me that question. It’s a party affair. I guess the party Exco would be in a better place to answer that question,” he responded.
“They did whatever they did for whatever reason.
“I am not aware Ita Enang was working for the APC. Ita Enang is a hired mole. Anyway, that’s his problem. The party will deal with it,” he added.
