A group of stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Akwa Ibom has rejected the pronouncement by Governor Umo Eno to give automatic tickets to National Assembly members from the state.
In a petition to President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, the stakeholders under the aegis of the Concerned Members of the APC, said that the Governor’s plan was not only undemocratic but negates the Constitution of the party.
The group warned that if the Governor goes ahead with his plan, the APC in the state will erupt in crisis between legacy members and new members, adding that Tinubu must take steps to avert the impending situation.
The petition signed by representatives from the 10 federal constituencies of the state raised the alarm that the development will annihilate legacy members of the party which stood by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Among the signatories to the petition are: Anthony James-Uyo federal constituency; Chief Effiong Etim-Itu federal constituency; Uwem Thompson-Abak federal constituency; Peter Okon-Ikot Ekpene federal constituency; Obong Stephen Umoh-Etinan federal constituency; Etim Asuquo-Oron federal constituency and Comrade Victor Ubom-Eket federal constituency.
Others are: Bernard Etim-Ikono/Ini federal constituency; Pastor Dennis James-Ukanafun/Oruk Anam federal constituency and Obong Etim Ekpo-Ikot Abasi federal constituency.
The petition reads in parts: “We, the Concerned Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, write to bring to your attention a pressing matter of grave concern regarding the recent pronouncement by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on automatic tickets for all incumbent National and State Assembly members.
“This pronouncement is undemocratic, unconstitutional, and a flagrant disregard for the APC Constitution and the position of the National leadership of the party.
“It will lead to a mass exodus of members to the opposition and a woeful performance in the next election cycle. There is a grand conspiracy to annihilate legacy members who stood with Senator Godswill Akpabio in building, growing, and sustaining the party.
“The Governor’s decision to grant automatic tickets to non-performing members, some of whom are seeking re-election against the zoning and rotation formula, is unjustifiable. A fair, equitable, and balanced formula for sharing elective offices between legacy members and recent defectors should be discussed and agreed upon”.
The petition further alleged that old members of the party have been sidelined and relegated by new entrants into the APC who are bent on hijacking the party structure in the state.
