A coalition of stakeholders within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State has vehemently opposed the recent pronouncement by the State Governor, Umo Eno, regarding the automatic return of incumbent National Assembly members as party candidates in the forthcoming elections.
Operating under the platform Concerned Members of the APC, the group submitted a strongly worded petition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday, decrying the governor’s decision as undemocratic, unconstitutional, and in direct violation of the party’s guiding principles.
They warned that if allowed to stand, the move could trigger internal conflict and division between longstanding “legacy members” and newly defected members of the APC in the state.
The petition, signed by representatives from all 10 federal constituencies of the state, paints a picture of growing discontent and marginalization among core APC loyalists.
It emphasizes that the controversial plan could spark a crisis that may ultimately destabilize the party’s structure in the state and undermine its electoral prospects.
According to the petitioners, the governor’s announcement threatens to destroy the political base built over the years by loyal party members, especially those who supported and stood firmly with Senate President Godswill Akpabio through the formative and challenging years of the APC in Akwa Ibom.
Among the petition’s signatories are Anthony James (Uyo Federal Constituency), Chief Effiong Etim (Itu), Uwem Thompson (Abak), Peter Okon (Ikot Ekpene), Obong Stephen Umoh (Etinan), Etim Asuquo (Oron), Comrade Victor Ubom (Eket), Bernard Etim (Ikono/Ini), Pastor Dennis James (Ukanafun/Oruk Anam), and Obong Etim Ekpo (Ikot Abasi).
In the document, the group wrote: “We, the Concerned Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, wish to alert you to a matter of serious concern.
Governor Umo Eno’s pronouncement granting automatic tickets to incumbent National and State Assembly members is not only a breach of internal democratic practices but also a direct affront to the APC Constitution and the authority of the party’s national leadership.”
They argued that such a unilateral decision undermines party cohesion, disenfranchises committed members, and paves the way for mass defections to rival parties.
The stakeholders further noted that some of the favoured incumbents are underperforming and are seeking re-election in defiance of established zoning and rotation principles, making the governor’s endorsement unjustifiable.
“Since Governor Eno’s defection to the APC,” the petition continued, “there has been a simmering cold war between core members and the new entrants. Legacy members who have remained steadfast in building the party are being sidelined, ridiculed, and subjected to humiliation. This toxic environment now threatens the unity and stability of the party.”
The group stressed that the governor’s action could erode what should have been a strategic advantage—an enlarged membership base—and instead turn it into a liability that could ultimately cost the APC dearly at the polls.
Raising suspicion of deeper political undertones, the stakeholders warned that the governor’s move might be part of a calculated strategy to diminish the influence of Senate President Akpabio within the party.
They claimed that by systematically sidelining loyalists of Akpabio and replacing them with his own allies, Governor Eno might be working to dismantle the Senate President’s political structure.
“This is not just about ticket allocation; it is an attempt to suppress and uproot the very individuals who toiled tirelessly to build the APC in Akwa Ibom. We will not stand by while our efforts are trampled upon. Those who carried the burden of the party deserve respect and inclusion, not betrayal and exclusion,” the petition emphasized.
The group implored President Tinubu to urgently intervene to prevent a total breakdown of party cohesion in the state.
They warned that without a fair and inclusive approach to candidate selection, the APC risked a major internal implosion that could lead to electoral failure and the erosion of its political standing in Akwa Ibom.
“We respectfully urge Your Excellency to act decisively and swiftly. The survival of the APC in Akwa Ibom hinges on your intervention. Let there be a level playing field where all members—both old and new—can compete fairly and democratically,” the petition concluded.