At least three people sustained injuries as the on-going fight between two factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom took a new twist over the weekend, Leadership reports.
Recall that a faction loyal to Obong Umana Okon Umana, the managing director of the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGFZA) and governorship candidate in last election, with another faction led by the former minister of state for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, have been at loggerheads.
3 injured as APC factions clash in Akwa Ibom
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However, the crisis got to the boiling point when the Umana’s faction chaired by Dr. Amadu Atai, announced the suspension of Senator Akpanudoedehe and later expelled him from the party for what they described as “anti-party activities”.
Atai, had addressed a press conference affirming the expulsion of Senator Akpanudoedehe, adding that the resolution had been agreed by the leadership of his Uyo Ward 6 and the State Exco of the party.
But in a swift response, Akpanudoedehe, returned from Abuja at the weekend and led his angry supporters in a long convoy from the Ibom International Airport to the APC secretariat, along Atiku Abubakar Way, Uyo, where they forcefully gained entrance after vandalizing the gate under lock by the Umana’s faction.
It was gathered that three people sustained different degree of injuries and one of the policemen who attempted to calm the situation was shoved aside by angry supporters of the ex-Minister.
Addressing his supporters at the secretariat, Akpanudoedehe announced the sacking of the former State Executive, replacing it with a new on chaired by one Mitchel Sunday George.
He described his expulsion from the APC as rubbish, warning that he would never be cowed by those he personally brought into the party.
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He said: “They are impostors who have defrauded women and other members of the party using the party structure.
“They have been deceiving women and members of the party by collecting money and sold forms for a purported federal government empowerment scheme.
“Why should collect money before registering people to benefit from the scheme?”
According to Akpanudoedehe, his decision to always challenge the atrocities of the Umana’s factional Executive angered the Atai-led Exco to orchestrate a campaign of calumny against him.
He said: “Where were they when I brought the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to the state? Where were they when I joined other prominent Nigerians including Asiwaju AhmedTinubu to found the APC?”
The ex-minister vowed to challenge incumbent Governor Udom Emmanuel when the bell is toll to kick-start the 2019 political activities.
“Yes, I will run for Governor to liberate you”, he announced, and enjoined his teeming supporters not to be distracted by the on-going factional feuds in the APC, assuring that the dislodgment of Umana’s faction would pave the way for the rebuilding process of the party.
Akpanudoedehe had quit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the then ACN in the run up to the 2011 general elections, where he was given the ticket to challenge former Governor Godswill Akpabio’s re-election bid.
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