Stakeholders from the Abak‑Five political bloc of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom North‑West senatorial district have refuted claims made by former Minister of Petroleum Resources Atuekong Etiebet that they withdrew their support for the aspirations of Bola Tinubu and Senator Godswill Akpabio. Etiebet, an APC stalwart, alleged that regional stakeholders had reached a consensus not to back Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem because Akpabio had refused to step down for the Abak‑Five candidacy.
The stakeholders urged residents of the senatorial district to disregard Etiebet’s statement, describing it as self‑serving and “dead on arrival.” In a communique signed by Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo—convener of the meeting and former House of Representatives member—and other stakeholders, the group detailed the composition of the gathering: officials from the old Abak division, chairmen of the party in the five chapters, 55 ward chairmen, APC candidates, and other relevant figures.
“Stakeholders of APC in Abak‑Five note with grave sadness the spurious claims of Atuekong Etiebet, which suggested that stakeholders in the region had resolved not to support Akpabio,” the statement read. “We reject the purported resolution that Abak‑Five should support a candidate of another political party. This reckless decision is an anti‑party act that should not be condoned under any guise.”
The bloc disassociated itself from Etiebet’s alleged statement that Abak‑Five would back the PDP senatorial candidate in the forthcoming National Assembly elections scheduled for 25 February, specifically referring to the Akwa Ibom North‑West senatorial district. Instead, they affirmed their support for Akpabio and the party’s presidential candidate, Tinubu. “We, the stakeholders of APC from Abak‑Five, endorse all APC candidates, beginning with Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu for President; Obong Akanimo Udofia for Governor; Senator Godswill Akpabio for Senate; and all House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates of APC.”
Finally, the stakeholders called on the national chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the state chairman, Obong Stephen Ntukekpo, and other party leaders to sanction Etiebet for engaging in anti‑party activities.
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