Skip to main content

Assembly crisis: more lawmakers join APC faction



...Akwa Ibom governor's aide quits.



From Bassey Anthony, Uyo


Scores of Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP) lawmakers in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly may defect to the All Progressives Congress(APC).


A dependable source told THE NATION that the PDP lawmakers were unhappy with the Speaker, Mr. Onofiok Luke for declaring the seats of five APC lawmakers vacant.


Sources said they had pledged their allegiance to the factional speaker, Mr. Nse Ntuen who represents Essien Udim State

Constituency, Senator Godswill Akpabio’s area.


The source said the PDP lawmakers met for several hours with the factional speaker at his Shelter Afrique home in Uyo Wednesday night.


“Over eight lawmakers have teamed up with the factional speaker’s group of five to effectively recover the Assembly from Luke and continue their legislative activities next week”, he said.


On the late night meeting the source said it resolved that Luke’s action was

‘subjudice and contemptuous’ stressing that his poor handling of defection politics have thrown the state into avoidable tension.


The source added that the others  lamented that Luke allowed the Governor to dictate how he runs the Assembly, a situation no longer acceptable to the members.


He said fresh entrants into the group of five pledged to work with Ntuen, and said the Assembly would reconvene next

week with him as speaker.


The APC factional speaker said he met  with other members, who have pledged support and co-operation to his leadership.


“I have said it before and I am saying it again that I am here to take government to the people and ensure that things are properly done. I am not here to witch-hunt anybody but will work with the people of

Akwa Ibom to get the dividends of democracy eluding them” he said.


Ntuen said he would not force his way into the Assembly complex but would consult and negotiate with  stakeholders in the

security circles to allow them do their job in a peaceful and conducive atmosphere.


The Assembly is still surrounded by security forces preventing people from entering the complex.


Governor Udom Emmanuel's Special Assistant on Projects Godswill Ekpenyong has resigned.


Ekpenyong who defected from PDP to APC is the ninth aide of Emmanuel to quit.


In a chat with reporters in Uyo, yesterday,  Ekpenyong said he resigned because the Governor was becoming unfair to some of his aides.


He accused the Governor of favouring those he called "the Lagos cabal."


The ex - aide said Akpabio unlike Emmanuel treated all aides fairly.


He advised Emmanuel to withdraw from the governorship race to save himself from disgrace because the people would vote him out.


Ekpenyong said he was joining APC because PDP structure in Mbo, his local government has collapsed with the resignation of Mr Victor Antai, ex - Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, now APC House of Representatives candidate for Oron.


He said the electoral chances of Emmanuel and PDP in Mbo were further ruined by Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, secretary to the state government, who altered the zoning to deny Mr Samuel Ufuo, House of Assembly member for Mbo a second term ticket.


Source: THE NATION Friday, November 23, 2018.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Herdsmen sack A'Ibom Community

Herdsmen sack A'Ibom Community  ° ° ° flouts Anti - grazing laws   Scores worried by incessant attack on farms by herdsmen despite the Anti - grazing laws undermining the efforts of Akwa Ibom State Governor to encourage people back to farming for food sufficiency,   distraught farmers in Ifa group of six villages, Uyo  local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State yesterday protested over the invasion of their farms by herdsmen. Confirming the incident, Women from the affected communities, namely: Ifa Ikot Akpan; Ifa Ikot Abia Nkpo; Ifa Ikot Obong; Ifa Ikot Idang;I  Ikot Akpabio; Ifa Ikot Abia Ntuen who were numbered in hundreds jointly cried to Akwa Ibom State Governor whom they said they gave their undivided mandate, to please kindly Save their Souls as herdsmen may one day kill their people. While counting their losses on the invasion, the farmers said the herdsmen led their cattle to plod and graze on their farms in defiance of the state government’s ban on ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Late Raphael Edem laid to rest

Late Raphael Edem laid to rest  ...Our candle is broken - Commumity ...my father means so much to people - Family  By IFIOKABASI ABIA  It was a moment of encomium, glamour and fanfare as a doyen of all time, Late Noble Brother Raphael Edem , KSJI laid to rest in his country home. The funeral mass was conducted last weekend by St. Mary's Catholic Church, Ikot Inuen, Nkwot, Ikono Local Government Area. In his homily, the Bishop of Uyo Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. John Ayah said the Life we live is not our own and we should do every thing to please our Creator so that when the day of transition to glory come we will not be found wanting. According to Ayah, "I knew our brother very well, Late Noble Brother Raphael Edem lying here. He was dedicated to the service and things of God. He is a testament of encouragement, focus, passion, support for the needy and never give up." "Late Edem never seat on the fence. He was hospitable and accommodating to all who came his ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Rev. Owen Ukafia enthrones Bishop of Uyo Cathedral

Rev. Owen Ukafia enthrones Bishop of Uyo Cathedral By IFIOKABASI ABIA It was a moment of glamour and fanfare amid pump and pageantry as Rt. Rev. Owen Amos Ukafia was enthroned to administer and discharge service to the people of God, as the fourth Bishop of Uyo Diocese, Cathedral of All Saints. The enthronement service held March 23, 2024, at Cathedral of All Saints Uyo, Church of Nigeria , Anglican Communion.  Speaking at the enthronement service, The Primate of Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion , Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba in his Goodwill Message congratulated Rt. Rev. Owen Ukafia and charged him to be focus, compassionate and dedicated to the service. Dr. Henry Ndukuba who was represented at the occasion by Most Rev. Dr. Blessing Eyinda, Bishop of Ikwere . Ndukuba admonished the newly enthroned Bishop to render selfless service and be ready to serve. He called on the leadership of the State and tasked them on good governance, justice and quality leadership for the benefit of the...
Post a Comment
Read more