The immediate past National Secretary of Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator James John Akpanudoedehe has resigned from the party.
It is speculated that what might have led to Akpanudoedehe’s resignation could be a face-off between him and the APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu when he was the National Secretary, resulting in the latter paying him back now.
Apart from that, Akpanudoedehe supported Chief Austin Ekanem as the state APC Chairman, while Akpabio is supporting Obong Stephen Ntukekpo, a disagreement that both parties could not sheathe their swords.
In a resignation letter dated June 4, 2022 and addressed to the Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Ward 6, Uyo Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, Akpanudoedehe said the decision to part ways with APC was tough.
”Henceforth, I cease to be a member of the APC in my ward (ward 6 in Uyo LGA) or anywhere for that matter. I hereby relinquish all rights which inured to me as a member of the APC, member of the National Advisory Council and member of the National Caucus of the APC,” he wrote.
According to him, ”“This decision to part ways with the APC is a tough one, but leadership entails adherence to the wishes of the vast majority of associates, allies and supporters who have shown fidelity overtime and have now witnessed the obduracy of the APC in handling the Candidates Selection processes in Akwa Ibom State.
“Our greater goal of providing service to the people of our dear state remains sacrosanct.”
Confirming the story to Straightnews on Monday, June 6, Solomon Johnny who was the state Publicity Secretary of APC under Ekanem-led administration said ”It is true that the Senator has resigned.”
Akpanudoedehe’s resignation Letter
Joins NNDP
However, Akpanudoedehe has secured the ticket of the NNPP as the party’s consensus governorship candidate for Akwa Ibom in the 2023 elections.
In his acceptance speech at the governorship primary organised by the Akwa Ibom chapter of the NNPP on Monday, the former APC caretaker committee national secretary thanked the party for finding him worthy of the ticket.
“For what you have done today, you have become the number one party in Akwa Ibom state. You are going to the government house with me. Just like Kwankwaso, Udoedehe is a movement. I want to thank you for electing me,” he said.
“You have been in the struggle like me. So, therefore, adding me and you together, it’s a win already. If you have never been serious, please, be serious. You have to be serious. To take power from a sitting government is not a tea party.”
Recall that the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, swore in Stephen Ntukekpo as chairman of the party in Akwa Ibom State despite a court order directing parties to maintain the status quo.
Read also: I Remain APC CECPC National Secretary- Akpanudoedehe confirms
The Court of Appeal in Abuja had on April 7 directed all parties “to maintain the status quo” in an appeal filed by the former secretary of APC Caretaker Committee, John Akpanudoedehe, for a stay of execution as well as challenging the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court in Abuja which declared Mr Ntukepo as chairman of the party in Akwa Ibom.
However, on April 11, 72 hours after the court’s directive, Mr Ntukekpo was sworn in by Mr Adamu as the substantive chairman of APC in Akwa Ibom State in defiance of the Appeal Court order.
But last week, Senator Akpanudoedehe had withdrawn the matter from the court.
The Genesis
From the beginning, APC in Akwa Ibom State had been enmeshed in a leadership crisis before and after the state congress of the party in October 2021.
The state congress of the party resulted in two different sets of executives claiming leadership of the party in the state.
Two parallel state congresses of the party were held in October 2021 which produced two parallel state executives, both claiming to be the legitimate body in charge of the party in the state.
One faction led by Austin Ekanem as state chairman, which was loyal to Mr Akpanudoedeghe was said to have emerged from the congress conducted at Sheergrace Arena in Uyo reportedly monitored by a committee deployed by the party’s national headquarters and supervised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The second faction led by Mr Ntukekpo as state chairman, which is loyal to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, emerged from the congress conducted the same day but in another location – Kara Event Centre also in the state capital, Uyo.
Leadership crisis amid legal tussle erupted immediately after the state congress, but Mr Akpanudoedehe’s faction, led by Mr Ekanem, had the upper hand when their principal was in office as Caretaker Committee Secretary of the party.
Mr Ekanem was, on March 7, sworn into office as the state chairman of the party along with others by the Niger State Governor, Abubakar Bello, who was then acting chairman of the party’s caretaker committee while the then chairman, Governor Mala Buni of Yobe State, was abroad for medical treatment.
However, the governorship primary held on May 26, 2022 broke the camel’s back.
Akpanudoedehe who was an APC Governorship aspirant plotted to hold the primary at Sheergrace Event Centre, Uyo while Akpabio’s faction held its own along Ekpo Obot Street, Uyo, the Ntukekpo’s party office.
Eventually, the APC National body delivered election materials to the state Chairman APC Chairman, Stephen Ntukekpo and Obong Akan Udofia emerged as the state standard bearer for the 2023 general elections.
