Protests rock Akwa Ibom APC Reps’ primaries

…as Ebonyi Reps member denies disqualification, wins

The House of Representatives primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State have been greeted by widespread protests across several local government areas.

This is as a section of the membership insisted on consensus while others called for direct primaries in several wards across the state.

At ward centres visited in Essien Udim, Obot Akara, Ikot Ekpene, Etim Ekpo, Ika, Ukanafun, Oruk Anam, Abak, Nsit Ubium, Nsit Ibom, Etinan, and other areas, consensus arrangements were largely adopted, with preferred aspirants—mostly returnees seeking second and third terms—being endorsed.

However, BusinessDay gathered that the consensus arrangement did not hold in Mkpat Enin, Ikot Abasi and other centres in Ekere Senatorial District, as attempts to allegedly impose candidates were resisted by aggrieved aspirants and their supporters.

The dissenting groups reportedly cited remarks attributed to Godswill Akpabio, Senate President and Nentawale Yilwatda, APC National Chairman, insisting that where consensus fails, polls should be conducted.

At the Adiasim Ikot Ata Enin Ward centre in Essien Udim Local Government Area, tension rose as violence was narrowly averted after Erikan Tom, an aspirant for Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency, rejected the consensus arrangement.

Organisers insisted on adherence to party decisions, while Tom maintained that due process required a proper election.

Addressing journalists and supporters, Tom called on Akpabio, Yilwatda and President Bola Tinubu to intervene, alleging violation of party guidelines.

“I am a bonafide member of this Adiasim community and I am eminently qualified to stand for the primary, having bought the forms, screened and cleared.

“I have to stick my neck out for this contest because it is the turn of Essien Udim and Adiasim. There was a resolution at the national level of the party that where consensus fails, elections should be allowed, but today that resolution has been flouted openly,” he added.

In Abak Urban Ward 4, Utu Abak, supporters celebrated the emergence of a winner in a contest between Clement Jimbo, incumbent lawmaker Clement Jimbo and Iboro Johny, a new aspirant.

Also in Ikpa Nnung Assang 1, supporters celebrated a winner in a contest between Uduak Odudoh, the incumbent, Idongesit Nta and Ubong Idemudo, who contested for the seat of Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency seat in the Federal House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, Umo Eno, Governor of Akwa Ibom State, applauded the peaceful conduct of the APC House of Representatives primaries.

Speaking shortly after the nomination exercise in his ward, Ibiakpan Obotim II, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, Eno lauded party members who turned out for the exercise for conducting themselves peacefully.

He noted that from his personal experience and reports from across the state, the exercise was free, fair and transparent.

The governor congratulated the winners from across the state, especially Paul Ekpo, Member representing Etinan Federal Constituency, who won in Ibiakpan Obotim Ward II.

Eno used the opportunity to officially consult his ward, and rally support for President Bola Tinubu, Aniekan Bassey, Obong Paul Ekpo, Otobong Bob and himself.

He announced that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has resumed its voter registration exercise and urged those who were yet to register to take advantage of the opportunity.

He also commended party faithful from his ward, as well as across the state for turning out en masse for the primaries and assured of continuous people- centric leadership.

Earlier, Aniekan Ekpo, APC State Deputy Chairman, thanked the governor for his quality leadership and infrastructural transformation in the State.

He affirmed that the people of Ibiakpan Obotim II will give total support to his re-election bid and that of all candidates of the APC.

On his part, Obong Friday Akpan, the political leader of Ibiakpan Obotim II, thanked Eno for the human capital and infrastructural development across Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, and also assured of continuous support from the ward.

Also speaking, Jephter Tom, the APC Ward Chairman, appreciated the governor for personally participating in the exercise, and for his humility to officially consult his ward.

He enumerated Eno’s numerous development strides both within the ward, and across the state, and assured that the ward will massively mobilize support to ensure his massive victory and that of other APC candidates.

The official result of the primaries has yet to be announced but some candidates have winners in many Local Government Areas of the state including Unyime Idem, a high performing federal legislator who is reported to have secured his third term ticket for the Ukanafun/Oruk Anam federal constituency.

In Ebonyi State, Iduma Enwo Igariwey, the member representing Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, dismissed reports alleging his disqualification from participating in the House of Representatives primaries.

Igariwey, who was subsequently declared winner of the APC primaries for the constituency, described the reports circulating on social and conventional media platforms as false and misleading.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the exercise, he said no individual or authority disqualified him from contesting the party primaries, alleging that mischiefmakers manipulated a document bearing a different name in a bid to deceive the public.

The lawmaker insisted that the document being circulated did not bear his official name.

“God forbid bad thing! Nobody disqualified me. I saw a document that doesn’t bear my name and if you look at that document, you will see that it is Iduma Igariwey Enwo that is there, which is not my official name.

“So, whatever that is being circulated is completely strange to me, it is unknown to me,” he said.

On his reelection, he said, “I feel great, I feel very happy for my victory at the House of Representatives primaries in Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency.

“It is a demonstration of where my constituency has placed me over the past years of my representation. It was quite resounding and I am so grateful and very happy.”

Igariwey, who is seeking a fourth term in the House of Representatives, explained that the Electoral Act and the Constitution clearly stipulate conditions for disqualifying an aspirant, stressing that such action cannot be taken arbitrarily.

The lawmaker, who serves as Vice Chairman on the House Committee on Appropriation, noted that due process and fair hearing are compulsory requirements before any aspirant can be disqualified.

“We were carefully making sure that those who aspire to represent this country in any capacity are not just ambushed and that is why we created Section 85 of the Electoral Act.

“Take your time, look at the Electoral Act. You will find out that to disqualify an aspirant or a prospective candidate, you must do it within the requirements as contained in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I don’t answer Idu, I am Iduma Enwo Igariwey and that’s my name. Maybe somebody tried to smuggle in something that shouldn’t be there in the first place”, he said.

He further assured constituents of stronger and more impactful representation if re-elected in 2027.

“You will recall that what has stood out for Hon. Iduma Enwo Igariwey is the strength of my representation which has impacted tremendously on my constituency and for which the majority of my constituency have been clamouring for,” he said.

The lawmaker also commended Francis Nwifuru, Governor of Ebonyi State, for providing a peaceful and conducive atmosphere for the conduct of the APC primaries in the constituency.

He equally thanked the electoral committee for conducting what he described as a successful and transparent exercise.

Earlier, Chinedu Nwali, Chairman of the APC House of Representatives Primary Election Committee for Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency, announced that Iduma Enwo Igariwey polled 5,368 votes in Edda and 9,785 votes in Afikpo, bringing his total votes to 15,157 to emerge winner of the party’s ticket for the 2027 House of Representatives election.