•set to reconcile partymen, instill unity
President of the Senate, Dr Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday said there was hope for the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2027, beyond its current profile.
He said the party in the state, having worked hard to produce three national assembly members, including himself, the chairman of the National Assembly and number three man in Nigeria, was in top gear to spring surprises in the next dispensation.
Addressing stakeholders of the party from Akwa Ibom North-East (Uyo) Senatorial District, Akpabio noted that the party, amidst internal wranglings and disagreements, pulled through, winning major seats during the 2023 general elections.
Akpabio who was accompanied to the meeting by his colleagues in the National Assembly stated, “We have come a long way and we have made our statements. The party had the potential of sweeping the state in the last elections.
“Akwa Ibom people love me. They don’t care which party I belong. They go wherever they see me. APC is a party to be. Our amiable President has enormous plans to renew the hopes of Nigerians.
“Therefore, it is pertinent that we must bury our hatchet, come together to work for the interest of the party”, he said.
Akpabio said going forward, double standard would no longer be condoned amd and urged the state party chairman, Chief Stephen Ntukekpo to immediately set up reconciliation committees in the three senatorial districts of the state, for swift resolution of any perceived crisis.
“Of course, it would be inappropriate to have the Senate President without the party doing all it takes to produce a governor. As God had located him in the bush and anointed me to be governor and now as Senate President, He would certainly anoint a man in Uyo to be governor”, he further promised.
Speaking earlier at the event, the immediate-past SSA to President Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs and one of the 2023 APC gubernatorial aspirants, Sen. Ita Enang, all issues of disagree in the party have been resolved.
Aknowledging Godswill Akpabio’s efforts at repositioning the party for victory, Enang called on all partymen and supporters to bury their differences and come together for the success of the party in the future.
Also in attendance were senators and national assembly members, the State Chairman of the APC, Obong Stephen Ntukekpo; 2023 Senatorial Candidate for Akwa Ibom Northeast Senatorial District, Dr. (Rt. Hon) Emaeyak Ukpong and a former Commissioner and 2023 gubernatorial aspirant, Prof. Chris Ekong.
Highpoint of the meeting was a presentation of a graven statue and a souvenir by Dr. Emaeyak Ukpong on behalf of the Senatorial District Leadership of the party to the Senate President.