ICMS,Inc Reports
By Tom Okure, Ph.D
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The All Progressives Congress (APC) political party of Nigeria rolled out a large welcome celebration today in Akwa Ibom State’s Ikot Ekpene township stadium to welcome Senator Godswill Akpabio, who is formally defecting from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and joining the APC.
Senator Akpabio is defecting and carrying along with him many prominent Akwa Ibom State PDP chieftains to the APC. According to news media sources, the list of who is who among the defectors to APC include some members of the State House of Assembly and:
“former works commissioner in the state, Mr Don Etim, former senator Effiong Bob, Leader of the House, Mr Udo Kieran Akpan, former Speaker and House of Reps member for Etinan Federal Constituency, Mr Sam Ikon, respective House of Reps members from Abak and Essien Edim/Etim Ekpo/Ika, Mr Emmanuel Akpan and Mr Emmanuel Ekon, former Information Commissioner, Mr Aniekan Umanah, state House of Assembly members, Nse Ntuen, Usoro Akpanusoh, Aniekan Uko, Aniekan Bassey, Idongesit Ntekpere, Uduak Ududoh, Mark Esset, among others."
The full impact of Akpabio’s defection on the current governance structure in Akwa Ibom State and the competitiveness of PDP against the APC in the upcoming 2019 elections is unclear. One thing however is clear, and that is, the unleashing of anger, desperation, fear and political uneasiness among the political elite class in the state.
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| Senator Akpabio with a APC Chieftain Bola Tinubu after news broke of his defection and acceptance into APC |
One can feel the sense of betrayal, confusion, suspicion and anger among the PDP political base across the state who for the first time in many years feel vulnerable and fear that the invasion of APC into the state political fabric has finally taken root.
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| A jubilant crowd of both PDP and APC supporters welcomes Akpabio back to Akwa Ibom State in Uyo upon on his return en route to Ikot Ekpene to announce his formal defection from PDP |
Under the present circumstances, the existing PDP chieftains in the state have become alert, and everyone is advising Governor Udom to rid the PDP party hierarchy and the state government of all Akpabio’s moles embedded within the state governance structure prior to the next election.
Governor Emmanuel Udom Cleanses the State Executive Council of Detractors
In response to Akpabio’s defection, Emmanuel Udom's Akwa Ibom state government has taken some immediate decisive actions to rally his political support base, ensure loyalty among the remaining political leadership and eliminate any potential detractors within the current administration. The defection of Akpabio provides Udom with the unique opportunity to finally get rid of his political opponents in his government and the image that has trailed his political career as a political puppet of Senator Akpabio who was not elected by the masses but installed by Akpabio and beholden to him.
Immediately affected in the governance structure cleanup exercise by Udom are the removal from office and the State Executive Council with immediate effect of two prominent state commissioners.
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| Mr. Ibanga Akpabio dismissed as AKS Commissioner for “gross misconduct and non-compliance with public service rules.” |
Mr. Ibanga Akpabio from Ikot Ekpene who is a younger brother of Senator Godswill Akpabio and Mr. Victor Antai from Oron. According to the State Government press release, their dismissal from office was necessary due to “gross misconduct and non-compliance with public service rules.” Mr. Ibanga Akpabio served as the State Commissioner for Labour, Productivity and Manpower Development.
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| Mr. Victor Antai also dismissed as AKS Commissioner for “gross misconduct and non-compliance with public service rules." |
Akpabio in preparation for his formal defection from the PDP formally tendered his resignation as senate minority leader in the National Assembly. Akpabio's resignation has further fueled rumors about his political ambitions and intention, perhaps to take over the national assembly senates leadership under the banner of the APC. Senator Murray Bruce, one of Akpabio’s colleagues who represents Rivers state on Tuesday called Akpabio a traitor, and blamed him in part for the undemocratic siege of the National Assembly by the DSS.
Senator Akpabio Officially Dumps PDP For APC
The Recycling of Nigerian Political heavy weights between the two major political parties PDP and APC: The Case of Akwa Ibom State.
Ikot Ekpene Standstill for Akpabio
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