Ward Executives of the Akwa Ibom State chapter of All Progressives Congress across the 31 local government areas of the state have been sworn in, in line with the provisions of the APC Constitution.
The state organizing secretary, Hon. Aboh Uduyok performed the swearing-in ceremony, which held at Eseme Essien Event Centre, Uyo on Sunday, August 29, 2021.
Hon. Aboh Uduyok, who said it was incumbent on him to carry out the inauguration of the ward executives of the Party, expressed gratitude to the leaders of APC for not allowing the party to be pocketed by an individual.
He emphasized that every member of APC has equal right, irrespective of when he or she joined the party, stating that “there is no landlord in APC”.
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Describing the inauguration as a pathway to progress, APC stakeholders and Elders from the three Senatorial Districts commended Hon. Uduyok for the exercise, urging party members to unite and move forward.
Speaking at the event, the Director General of Akwa Ibom Democratic Forum (ADF), Rt. (Hon.) Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo said he was delighted to witness the inauguration of Ward Executives after the Ward Congress, and thanked the State Organizing Secretary of the Caretaker Committee of the party for rising to the responsibilities of his office.
According to him, “I am happy that we have somebody in the person of Hon. Aboh Uduyok, who decided to stand tall, who did not allow his sense of reasoning to be clouded by selfish political sentiments, but decided to rise up to the responsibilities of his own office.
He conducted the Congress as demanded of his office as the director of that project, and submitted the results. Today, we have these calibers of persons being inaugurated”.
The Director General of ADF, said he was concerned about the fate of those party faithful, who pulled out their hard-earned money to buy forms for the Congress, and were shortchanged by a few persons who claimed ownership of the party.
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He commended the party members who challenged the outcome of what he described as concocted Ward Congress in the State.
“Let me sincerely thank the five Ward Chairmen for refusing to accept the outcome of the Congress, who approached the court, and the court validated the constitution of the party. A Court Order was given and that is what empowers you to be inaugurated today, and you are the authentic officers of APC at the ward level”, Ekpo emphasized.
He reiterated that the future of APC was in the hands of the ward executives, adding that “whosoever will be the governor of Akwa Ibom State will be from the APC and you are going to be the ones to bring that person.
There is no King that can crown himself, you are the ones that are going to crown whosoever will become the governor of Akwa Ibom State”.
He commended leaders of the APC in the State for standing firm on what is fair and equitable for the people, highlighting and lauding President Buhari’s resolute stance on providing a level playing field for everyone in the party, and not allowing room for imposition of candidates.
Ekpo said that the APC in Akwa Ibom State does not belong to an individual, and the party is set to present a candidate with profiles and track records that are capable of winning election.
“Nobody owns APC. We have come to build APC for Victory. We are not interested in who becomes the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, but we will know who will be the governor of the State. We don’t need to bring somebody that has been failing all the times, we are not presenting any failure. We need somebody that will win the election for us and we will elect that person,” he said.
Ekpo noted that ADF was in support of the decision and the action of the party towards setting things right, stating that “This is not ADF function, it is APC function. We are meant to support the party to succeed”.
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Obong Maurice Ebong said the inauguration has ushered a rebirth of the party in Akwa Ibom State. He said by the exercise, “We have been able to arrest what seemingly was a drifting in the party. I want to thank Hon. Aboh Uduyok for inaugurating the new executive”.
He expressed optimism that the APC in Akwa Ibom State “will go from height to height and we are all looking forward to getting to the Hilltop Mansion”.
Pastor Abasiandikan Nkono, representing Eket Senatorial District said the event marked the beginning of the change in the Akwa Ibom APC, noting that there has been a paradigm shift in the party.
“As far as APC is concerned, today marks the beginning of change Mr. President has been talking about. The President said change must begin with you, and change must begin with me. Today that change has begun in Akwa Ibom State. It is a paradigm shift, and so we want to completely align ourselves with the Organising Secretary of our Party who has taken the bull by the horns. He has proven that no single person own APC in Akwa Ibom State. APC belongs to all of us, and so it is your duty to take your position as co-owners of APC,” he added.
Pastor Abasiadikan charged the newly inaugurated wards Executives of the Party to spread the message of change in the party to every nook and cranny of the State to boost the confidence of supporters.
The event was attended by prominent APC faithful from the three Senatorial Districts and all the 329 Wards Centres in the State.
