Elders of the APC in Akwa Ibom State during the inauguration of the Elders Forum of the party on Sunday, 26th September.
By Abasifreke Effiong
The pioneer caucus chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom State, Group Captain Sam Ewang, retired, has appealed to elders of the party to join him to revive the party in the State.
Ewang made the appeal at the inauguration of the Elders Forum of the APC on Sunday, 26th September.
“I am made to understand that the party has died, but we are trying to resuscitate it. I am calling on all the elder of this party to come together with me and let’s revive the party.”
Ewang used the occasion to disprove the regular claim by Senator John Udoedehe, Secretary of the National Caretaker Committee of All Progressives Congress, APC, that he is the owner of APC in Akwa Ibom State.
The former military administrator of Ogun and Rivers State said he, Atuekong Don Etiebet and Senator Godswill Akpabio are the real owners of the APC in the State.
“I was told recently that I was suspended from the party, but of course you know it is only a mad man that would say he has suspended the owner of the party.”
“In this conjecture, I was the first caucus chairman of this party in this State before Don Etiebet came, he became the second and then Godswill Akpabio came and met the qualification, he became the three (sic.) So, we are three owners of this party.”
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Senator Godswill Akpabio, now Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party until August 2018.
Ewang said it was wrong for anyone aside himself, Atuekong Don Etiebet, and Chief Godswill Akpabio, to lay claim to ownership of the party.
“The Elders Forum will be in-charge of nomination of persons into positions in the party and would be at the forefront in event the party calls for a consensus candidate in her forthcoming state congress”, Ewang added.
The State Working Committee, SWC, of the Elders Forum of the APC as inaugurated has Senator Godswill Akpabio, as leader, Group Captain Sam Ewang as chairman, Prince Akpabio Ukpa as deputy chairman, Mr. Chris Akpan, as secretary.
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Obongawan Geraldine Ita Etuk is the treasurer, while Barr. Chris Okorie is the legal adviser.
Chairman on the occasion, Atuekong Don Etiebet, represented by Mr. Don Etim, said the forum will to further consolidate and strengthen the party in Akwa Ibom State.
Mr. Etim lauded Senator Godswill Akpabio, whom he said “has continued to show direction towards the absolute success of APC in Akwa Ibom State”, adding that the forum is opened to every member of the party who qualifies to be an elder.
Goodwill message was received from the Noble Lady Valerie Ebe, a former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State.
