MKPAT ENIN APC ERUPTS: PARTY FAITHFUL PROTEST ALLEGED PLOT TO DISSOLVE STRUCTURES AHEAD OF FEBRUARY CONGRESSES
By Imoh Essien (Uyo)
Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have staged a peaceful protest against what they described as a clandestine move by party “bigwigs” to dissolve the existing ward and chapter structures ahead of the party’s congresses scheduled for February 18 and 21.
The protesters, made up largely of ward and chapter executives, gathered at the Mkpat Enin Local Government Secretariat on Sunday to register their grievances over alleged plans to impose new lists of ward and chapter officers to replace the current leadership.
They said the rumoured move followed the recent defection of key figures from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the APC and warned that such actions could spark internal crisis and undermine the unity of the party.
Speaking during the protest, one of the demonstrators, accused the new entrants into the party of attempting to hijack its structure.
“We are the goose that laid the golden egg,” Silas declared. “We suffered, laboured and built this party here. But barely six months after the PDP bigwigs defected into APC, they are now plotting to evict us from the same party we struggled to grow.”
He added that if the defectors were dissatisfied with their present political offices, they should consider exchanging positions rather than forcefully taking over party structures.
“If the PDP bigwigs who defected six months ago now feel that their positions as commissioners, special advisers, local government chairmen, House of Assembly members, councillors, supervisors and ward personal assistants are not useful to them, they should relinquish those offices and come for the ward and chapter positions. Let us swap places so they can be comfortable,” he said.
Another protester, Mr. Ubong Inyang, described the alleged plot as “bigwigs ambushing APC” in Mkpat Enin and warned that if not checked, it could snowball into a major embarrassment for the party in the area.
“These bigwigs are the problem. If this is not nipped in the bud, it will cause disaffection and crisis. We have worked tirelessly to raise this party. We cannot now be pushed aside with ignominy,” he said.
The protesters lamented that despite their loyalty and sacrifices, they had not benefited from appointments since the party’s rise in the area.
“We have not benefited anything after our struggle and steadfastness. All the PAs, SAs to the Governor, appointments in the local government councils and to commissioners came from the PDP. What is our own?” one of them queried.
They called on Governor Umo Eno to urgently intervene and halt what they described as the “power-drunk” attempt to destabilise the party in Mkpat Enin.
At the end of the protest, the group issued a communique reaffirming their loyalty to the APC leadership at the state and national levels.
The communique stated:
“We, the ward and chapter officers of the party in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, declare our total support for His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, and his development initiatives under the ARISE Agenda.
As the political leader of the party in the state, we pledge our unalloyed support to all his policies, programmes and initiatives.
Our support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno for a second term is total, and we do not need anything that will distract us.”
The protesters further advised that for peace to reign, the existing party structures in Mkpat Enin—from the ward to the chapter level—should be allowed to remain intact, while political appointees and elected office holders in the local government should maintain the status quo.
They warned that any attempt to impose new executives could fracture the party and weaken its chances in future elections.
