•My expulsion from APC is fake news, says ex-presidential aide
There was tension yesterday in the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), following the purported suspension of Niger Delta Affairs Minister Umana Okon Umana and the expulsion of former aide to the President, Senator Ita Enang.
A letter, dated December 14, 2022, said to be from the Nsit Ubium chapter of the APC and signed by its Secretary, Bee Monday John, was circulating on the social media.
It stated that Umana was expelled for alleged anti-party activities.
The letter reads: “Your suspension is due to your failure, after consistent invitation, to appear before the party and answer to anti-party allegation leveled against you.
“Note that you have been accused of being a major financier of the main opposition party, (the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the local government.
“You have been sponsoring the parallel party executive in the chapter and wards of the local government.”
Another letter, dated January 24, 2023, signed by the State Chairman of the party, Stephen Ntukekpo, ratified the expulsion of Senator Enang.
The ratification reportedly followed a petition by the party’s Ward Chairman in Ibiono Ibom, Eastern Ward 2, which accused the former presidential aide of anti-party activities, including colluding with the PDP to frustrate APC’s interests ahead of elections.
But Ntukekpo, in a statement yesterday, has disclaimed the purported suspension of Umana, describing it as fake and emanating from unknown persons.
Also, Enang has described reports of his expulsion from the APC as fake news.
The former presidential aide on Niger Delta Affairs stated this in an interview with Arise TV yesterday.
Enang is laying claim to the governorship ticket of the APC in Akwa Ibom.
He promised to address a media briefing to debunk the fake news about his expulsion from the ruling national party.
Insisting that he remained a member of the APC, Enang said: “They will not intimidate me for defending myself in court. I am the legitimate governorship candidate of the APC for the 2023 general election.
“I am the spirit, body, and soul of the APC in Akwa Ibom State. Nobody has suspended me or done anything that affects my status in the party. There is no judgment that gives anybody the ticket of the party. All these actions are taken against me because I have gone to court to defend myself.
“The decision was taken against me because I have taken my case to court. I am entitled by law to defend myself.”
He claimed that former Governor Godwin Akpabio had conspired to take charge of the leadership of the APC in Akwa Ibom.
Enang alleged that Akpabio’s attitude had driven many people away from the APC in Akwa Ibom.
“People are leaving the APC. Why are we losing followership since Akpabio came? Why are members leaving? But I will not leave,” he said.