An All Progressives Congress’ ward exercise held in Akwa Ibom State has been marred by a protest allegedly staged by supporters of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Godswill Akpabio.

Tribune reports that the angry protesters were seeking the cancellation of the ward congress exercise, alleging that the National Caretaker Secretary, Senator John Udoedehe, had “fraudulently manipulated the lists to include only his loyalists as candidates for the wards and chapter congresses.”

Armed with placards of various inscriptions: “Udoedehe cannot decide for us in Akwa Ibom”, “The list cannot stand”, “We reject this shambolic manipulation by one man”, “This congress cannot hold” and “Enough of one man dictatorship in Akwa Ibom APC,” the protesters were said to have set a bonfire outside the party office and caused traffic chaos along the major access road outside 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.”

“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?” Comrade Effiong Bassey, a youths’ activist and one of the protesters lamented.

 

More to come…