A faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State has formally called for the removal of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ekperikpe Ekpo, from his post.
The call was made in a letter to President Bola Tinubu, signed by party chieftains from 29 of the state’s 31 local government areas. They allege that the minister’s conduct and his ambition to become the next state governor have become a major source of disunity within the party, damaging its prospects for success.
The letter, which was made available to journalists on Wednesday, was signed by numerous local party leaders, including Rt Hon Michael Essien, Obong Anthony John, Comrade Victor Okon, and Pst David Udoh, Lawrence Edet (Uyo), David Linus-Ibesikpo (Ibesikpo Asutan) local government areas
Others are Asua Effiong (Etinan), Vincent Etuk (Nsit Atai), Samuel Samuel (Abak), Emmanuel Chris, (Ika), Iniemem Effiong (Ikot Ekpene), Edidiong Okon (Mkpat Enin), Steve Udofia, (Ikot Abasi) among others.
The letter read in part:
“His actions and behaviour have become a liability to the party’s unity and success in the state, and we strongly believe that it is in the best interest of the party and the nation to consider his immediate sack.
“It has come to our attention that the Minister is placing his inordinate gubernatorial ambition above the party’s interest and your re-election bid in 2027.
“His selfish interests are clouding his judgment, and he is more focused on positioning himself for a future political contest than on delivering results for the party.
“We find it unacceptable that a minister entrusted with the responsibility of managing a critical sector of the economy is more concerned with his personal political ambitions.
“We are also deeply disturbed by the Minister’s role in sowing seeds of discord between the Senate President and the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. His actions are undermining the party’s unity and creating divisions that are detrimental to our collective success. For the APC to succeed in Akwa Ibom State, we need a minister who is a grassroots political general, not someone who is busy amassing wealth at the expense of party unity.
“Moreover, it has been brought to our notice that the Minister is using fronts to corner strategic gas investments for himself and his family. This blatant conflict of interest is unacceptable and raises serious questions about his integrity and commitment to public service. His boastful claims of being one of the ten richest politicians in the South-South are a clear indication of his priorities, which are misaligned with the values of the APC.
“We urge you, Mr. President, to take immediate action to address this situation and ensure that the APC remains a formidable force in Akwa Ibom State. We are confident that with your leadership and vision, the party will continue to thrive and deliver results for the Nigerian people”, the letter stated in parts.
In response,the minister’s media adviser, Louis Ibah, rejected the claims. He described the letter as a pointless and baseless attempt to damage the minister’s good name, made by people seeking personal gain.
He said: ‘’We categorically dismiss this petition as a shallow, frivolous, and substance-less attempt by attention-seeking non-members of the APC to undermine Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo’s reputation. The petition lacks merit and deserves no serious consideration. Genuine APC members in Akwa Ibom State recognize and appreciate Ekpo’s invaluable contributions to the party’s growth and the state’s development.
“His track record as Minister of Gas speaks for itself: unlocking the country’s natural gas potential, attracting investments to the country (Akwa Ibom State inclusive), and creating jobs for Nigerians.
“As a loyal party man, Hon. Ekpo has consistently demonstrated dedication and stewardship. He was a key force behind the Akwa Ibom Democratic Forum (ADF), a socio-political group that championed the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR during the 2023 general elections.
‘’It is clear that this petition is a mischievous attempt by political jobbers who envy the goodwill and trust Hon. Ekpo enjoys from Mr. President. Loyal APC members are focused on making meaningful contributions, not indulging in petty, attention-seeking antics.
‘’We assure the public that Rt. Hon. Ekpo will continue to promote and strengthen the values and aspirations of Mr. President for the country’s development and the ideals of the ruling APC in Akwa Ibom State and beyond.
“His commitment to the party’s principles and the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda remains unwavering, and he will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the party’s success and the prosperity of Nigerians”, he concluded.
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