APC Now Controlling Akwa Ibom PDP, Says Top Official

A striking allegation has been made by Fabian Emmanuel, a member of the Akwa Ibom State Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He claims that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) now dictates the internal affairs of the PDP in the state. This follows Governor Umo Eno's defection to the APC. It's clear that this defection has had a significant impact on the state's political landscape.

The PDP official, who is also the assistant organising secretary 1 of the PDP in Akwa Ibom and a member of the Nyesom Wike faction of the party, made this allegation in a Facebook post shared on Sunday. He stated that PDP aspirants in Akwa Ibom were prevented from obtaining nomination forms for the 2027 state assembly election due to directives allegedly favouring APC interests under the “Akwa Ibom United” political arrangement. They didn't allow PDP aspirants to get these forms, which is a significant issue.

Governor Eno had defected to the APC and vowed not to relinquish the PDP structure in the state to prevent the party from mounting strong opposition against him during the 2027 elections. He integrated his newly coined phrase, “Akwa Ibom United,” into the state’s APC slogan to symbolise governance across party lines. This move hasn't worked out as planned, and it's led to growing unease within the PDP.

Mr Emmanuel's claims confirm previous reports on the collapse of Mr Eno's cross-party promise in Akwa Ibom, and they suggest that there's growing unease within the PDP over the balance of power in the state. The situation is complex, and it's clear that the PDP is struggling to maintain its influence.

“They couldn’t announce to us, ‘Sorry, the directive is that only APC aspirants must control both the APC and the PDP forms for stewards,’” he wrote. This statement highlights the issue at hand, and it's clear that the PDP is facing significant challenges.

The PDP official alleged that despite assurances by party leaders that nomination forms were available, interested PDP aspirants were repeatedly denied access to them. They were told that the forms were available, but they weren't given the opportunity to get them. This has caused frustration among PDP members.

Details of the Allegation

According to him, the state PDP chairman, Aniekan Akpan, informed members of the state executive committee during a meeting that forms were available and that exco members had “right of first refusal” if they wished to contest elective offices. However, aspirants were subsequently directed from one party official to another without receiving the forms. They didn't get the forms, and it's unclear why they were denied.

He claimed he later received indications that “last-minute instructions” had been issued against his aspiration. It's not clear what these instructions were, but it's clear that they had a significant impact on his plans.

Reaction from the Party

When contacted by PREMIUM TIMES, Edwin Ebiese, the publicity secretary of the Akpan-led faction of the PDP, said he wasn't privy to Mr Emmanuel's claims and asked the newspaper to share the post with him for an informed comment. After receiving the post, Mr Ebiese confirmed he had read it but said he would only respond after obtaining clarifications from Mr Emmanuel. He needs more information before he can comment on the issue.

The situation in Akwa Ibom has sparked concerns about the balance of power in the state. With the APC allegedly controlling the PDP's internal affairs, it's unclear how this will affect the 2027 state assembly election. The outcome is uncertain, and it's likely to be a challenging election.

In November last year, a renowned journalist and politician in Akwa Ibom, Michael Bush, accused Mr Eno of deceiving the people with the “Akwa Ibom United” slogan. Mr Bush has declared his interest to contest against Mr Eno's re-election bid in 2027. He's a strong opponent, and it's likely to be a competitive election.