The Cross River state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) strategic stakeholders have accused the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and the Minister of Niger Delta Development, Usani Usani of destroying the party in the state.
The stakeholders made the accusation in a petition signed by former Cross River State governor, Chief Clement Ebiri, APC National Vice Chairman (South-South), Senator John Owan Enoh, Barr (Mrs) Mary Ekpere Eta D.G Women Devt. Commission, Barr Okoi Obono Obla SSA to Mr. President, Prof Eyo Etim Nyong Party Leader, Mr Wabilly Nyiam BOT Member, Mr. John Upan Odey Party Leader, Hon. Paul Andeshi Adah Former House of Reps Member, Barr Venatius Ikem and Mr. Ray Ugba Murphy submitted to the APC national chairman.
According to the stakeholders, Oyegun is working hand in glove with the Minister of Niger Delta, Usani Usani and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Ameachi to destroy the APC in Cross River State.
The stakeholders alleged that the Minister of Niger Delta cannot win 10% of votes in the state and imagined why the party should hand over the party structure in the state to him through the back door.
In the petition read by the Senator representing the Cross River Central Senatorial District, Cross River State, Senator John Owan Enoh, the stakeholders said, “We the concerned stakeholders of APC in Cross River State are deeply worried about the conduct of an improper state congress in our state. Although ordered by the National Leadership of the party, we consider so much to be wrong with this ordering given the circumstances surrounding the subject matter in question.
“As concerned stakeholders we praise the uprightness and unyielding conduct of Major General A.T. Umar (rtd), the ward/Local Government Congress Chairman. He demonstrated strength and character in his attitude to duty and ensured that he and his Assistant, Capt Ahmed Chiroma (th) painstakingly collated resuits from the other remaining 13 LGAs outside Biase LGA before returning to Abuja These two are a pride to the Nigerian Military.”
The stakeholders, who commended the ward and local government congresses chairman, said that it was wrong for the national leadership to send a panel to conduct state congress when they have not concluded the ward and LG congresses.
Also they berated the party for accepting the ward and LG congresses reports from the secretary of the Committee.
They therefore demanded the total rejection of the Ward Congress results submitted by the absconded secretary of the committee and his cohorts.
That the National Leadership of the party should rely on the copies of results of the Ward Congresses in the custody of lNEC and the police as the only authentic results; total rejection of any result purported to have been submitted by the Secretary for Chapter Congress especially because he had abscond before this was concluded; in the 4 LGAs not included in the submission by the Congress Chairman because the Secretary absconded with them, that the results with lNEC/the police be relied upon as the authentic results for both the Chapter Excos and National delegates.
Also, they demanded the cancellation of the improper state Congress of Saturday and the rescheduling of same for the state; the public display of the authentic ad hoc delegates list for the state congress submitted by the Chairman ahead of the rescheduled date; and the appointment of an unbiased and independent state congress panel for Cross River. Our hope is that the National Chairman of the party will not ignore these very glaring anomalies and will therefore act in the best interest of the party.
