The group alleged that Akpabio is working hard to destroy the APC in Akwa Ibom.
A group, Akwa Ibom APC Progressives Forum (AAPF), has accused the former Akwa Ibom Governor and immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio of anti-party activities.
The group also accused Akpabio, a former minister in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet, of having a secret alliance with an opposition party, Young Progressives Party (YPP) in the state.
The group disclosed this in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Hon. Sylvanus Eyo on Monday and made available to SaharaReporters.
The group alleged that Akpabio is working hard to destroy the APC in Akwa Ibom. It accused the former minister of attempting to scuttle the chances of the party and all its candidates by creating disunity and sponsoring crisis within the party in favour of YPP in the state.
The statement said, "Feelers in the state indicate that Senator Akpabio may have secretly pitched tent with his old political ally and YPP Guber Candidate, Bassey against his own party APC.
“It may be recalled that Senator Obong Bassey Albert popularly known as OBA served as Commissioner of Finance during Akpabio's tenure as Governor of Akwa Ibom State and is currently standing criminal trial by EFCC on a six-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of ₦204 Million Naira.
“Recently, he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to emerge the Governorship Candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Akwa Ibom State ahead of the 2023 General Elections.
“Akpabio's support for Bassey has undoubtedly angered some APC members in the state and they have been calling him out for his perceived sabotage and anti-party activities. Penultimate week, a group under the aegis of Founding Members of old ACN/APC in Akwa Ibom State wrote an open letter to APC National Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, bemoaning what they described as unwholesome anti-party activities of Senator Akpabio.
“They said Akpabio has refused to participate in meetings and events of the party at the state level.
"He also doesn't want to close ranks with notable APC leaders in the state like current Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Umana, Ex NDDC Boss, Nsima Ekere and a host of others.
“They further alleged that Akpabio is the architect of the crisis in APC following his alleged role in the removal of Austin Ekanem as State Party Chairman through a court Judgement that was obtained with forged documents. The former minister has been enmeshed in several controversies over the conduct of APC Primaries in Akwa Ibom State.
"He imposed unknown candidates in kangaroo primaries which have become the subject of various litigation in courts. The whole episode smacks of an attempt to undermine the chances of the APC and it is worrisome and despicable, to say the least. It is quite clear that Akpabio is acting out the script of the YPP with whom he has been in cahoots for a while now.
"One would wonder why a party leader who ought to be a unifier will take up the role of a destroyer, causing confusion and creating divisions in the party. But for mischief, why will a party leader shun all entreaties and invitations for a reconciliation meeting that will help the party to close ranks and move forward?
"It is pertinent to ask why Akpabio is nonchalant about the fate of the party in the state and has rather stayed back in Abuja to sponsor the crisis back home. As it stands now, APC may not field candidates in many positions across the state owing to controversial primaries conducted by Akpabio's illegal surrogate State Chairman, Hon. Steven Ntukekpo.
"There is a preponderance of evidence indicating that Akpabio wants the APC to fail while he strategically positions himself for possible ministerial appointment at the Federal level in the aftermath of Bola Ahmed Tinubu's emergence as President.”
"We are at a loss as to why Akpabio would not bother to come back home and campaign for his Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial election after illegally snatching the party ticket from DIG Ekpoudom. The totality of his actions so far leads to the inescapable conclusion that this is a sinister plot to allow the YPP, whose interest he is clearly serving, to win Akwa Ibom State," the group said.