Akwa Ibom governor fires commissioners who received Akpabio at Uyo airport

Udom Emmanuel, governor of Akwa Ibom state, has sacked two commissioners loyal to Godswill Akpabio, his predecessor.

The commissioners were sacked with immediate effect for what was described as “act of disloyalty”.

The affected commissioners are Ibanga Akpabio (labour, productivity and manpower development), and Victor Antai (culture and tourism).

Charles Udoh, commissioner for information, said the two commissioners had to be removed from the state executive council for disloyalty to the governor.

Ibanga, who is a younger brother to Godswill Akpabio was sacked alongside Antai after receiving the former at the Ibom International Airport on Tuesday.

Akpabio flew into the state preparatory to his plan to defect from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Udoh said the commissioners had to be removed from the state executive council following their “reluctance to comply with good governance processes.’’

“With the development, they have been mandated to handover to the Permanent Secretary in their respective ministries before close of work on Wednesday August 8,’’ he said.

The commissioner said the duo showed complete disloyalty to Emmanuel and therefore could not continue to remain in the state executive.

On Tuesday, Akpabio tendered his resignation as the senate minority leader and will formally defect to APC.