The Director General of Akwa Ibom Democratic Forum (ADF) Obongemem Ekerikpe Ekpo has described the allegation levelled against his group by the Caretaker Committee Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa ibom, Mr Nkereuwem Enyongekere, as wild, unsubstantiated and diversionary.
Ekpo, a former member of the National Assembly in an interview on Saturday further alleged that the publicity secretary rather than addressing genuine concern raised by committed members over the possible imposition in the party due to bias, injustice and lack of unity has deliberately embarked on “wild goose chase while playing the ostrich amid leadership crisis they ignited.”
Spokesperson of the APC in the state, Mr. Enyongekere had in a press release on Thursday said the PDP has also procured a tipper load of brooms to be burnt during the so-called defection charade.
According to Enyongekere, “Yesterday, a tipper load of freshly-made brooms arrived from Ikot Ekpene to the residence of a PDP Chieftain in Akpa Ube, Aka Offot community in Uyo local government area. A mountain-like heap of the broom is to be set on fire to illustrate the demise of APC in the state.
“The source further revealed that a former member of the National Assembly, hitherto a member of APC and now a Chieftain of the political pressure group that goes by the name; Akwa Ibom Democratic Forum (ADF) is linked and closely associated with the planned charade.”
However, the Director General of ADF who dismissed the statement as complete illusion and a deliberate ploy to divert public attention from ongoing maladministration in the party urged members and supporters of the party to unite and rescue the party from impostors.
According to him, ”APC without equivocation has a good number of fifth columnist whose intents are to play the insider role of destroying the party and unless there is a conscious effort to rid the party of these saboteurs and rein in amenable ones, APC may never rise from this doldrum and prostrate state to win election in Akwa Ibom state.”
Ekpo who alleged that APC has been mired in crisis of confidence with the caretaker committee openly taking sides instead of investing efforts in building the party, noted that their attitude constitute failure of leadership and it was detrimental in every ramification to the party.
The ex-lawmaker who said he remains a bonafide member of APC and completely disassociates ADF from the concocted press statement urged those steering the affairs of the party to demonstrate personal moral ardour that can overcome inducement.
In his words,” We have more than 10 former NASS Members who are Chieftains of ADF. They are all APC biased and are all intact in the APC. Nobody will buy into these senseless and false allegations anymore.
“As allies, we frown at any action that puts our party in peril and recent actions of the acting Chairman and members of the State Working Committee of the party can not pass the test of morality and the considerations of justice, equity and fair-play.
The DG described as inexplicable the deliberate hijack of registration materials sent to the state by the Caretaker Committee and appeal to them to return membership registration materials to the units for continuous registration exercise in the interest of the party.
