Congress: Protest at Akwa Ibom APC secretariat over alleged manipulation of candidates’ list

Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom, on Saturday, protested at the party secretariat over the arrangement for the ward congress in the state.

The protesters were said to have called for the cancellation of the ward congress scheduled to hold on Saturday, over allegations that John Udoedehe, the national caretaker secretary, “manipulated the lists to include only his loyalists as candidates for the wards and chapter congresses”.

The APC had split into factions in Akwa Ibom, following the declaration of Godswill Akpabio, minister of Niger Delta affairs, as leader of the party in the state.

While some members have aligned with Akpabio, others have reportedly pitched their tents with Udoedehe as leader of the party in Akwa Ibom.

However, at the demonstration on Saturday, the protesters held placards, which had various inscriptions, including ‘Udoedehe cannot decide for us in Akwa Ibom’, ‘The list cannot stand’, ‘This congresses cannot hold’.

The protesters also burnt tyres outside the secretariat.

The demonstration was said to have caused traffic along the major access road near the Uyo city centre.

“We want the whole world to know that this sham is happening in Akwa Ibom. The party in the state has come under the vice-grip of one man just because of his ambition to rule the state in 2023,” one of the protesters said.

“We don’t know how he wants to achieve this if the party is balkanized with elements of disharmony holding sway.

“If we can no longer speak with one voice, how will he be able to realise his ambition which he has been nursing every election year?”