Fresh crisis rocks Akwa Ibom APC, State Chairman fired over gross misconduct
The All Progressive Congress (APC), Akwa Ibom State has again been submerged in leadership crisis as the arty suspended State Chairman, Obong Stephen Ntukekpo over gross misconduct.
This is content in a release sign by the state exco and other members of the party and dated 2nd July 2023.
Meanwhile, Dr Cyril Enemi has been named the new State Chairman.
Recall that Akwa Ibom APC has just recovered from serious leadership crisis which led to the loss of some of their founding members and stalwarts prior to the 2023 general elections.
The release reads:
Gross Misconduct: APC Fires State Chairman, Deputy in A’Ibom
…As Dr. Cyril Enemi takes over
2nd July, 2023.
SUSPENSION NOTICE
SUSPENSION OF OBONG STEPHEN LEO NTUKEKPO FROM OFFICE AS THE STATE CHAIRMAN, ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC) AKWA IBOM STATE CHAPTER, WITH EFFECT FROM 2ND JULY 2023.
The State Working Committee (SWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in conjunction with the entire State Exco members, after an exhaustive deliberation on the 2nd day of July, 2023 at the Party Secretariat, No. 6 Ekpo Obot Street, Uyo, on issues affecting our great Party in the State unanimously resolved to place the State Chairman Obong Stephen Leo Ntukekpo alongside his Deputy Dr. David Umoessien on suspension pending the outcome of the Panel of Enquiry set up to look into the under listed constitutional infractions committed against the Party amongst others, by the State Chairman:
Non convention of SWC meetings since the inception of his leadership to deliberate on issues affecting our Party in the State which the Constitution of the Party stipulates that at least such meetings “shall” be held once in every month. Art. 25.3 (i). In fact since his leadership inception not even an Inaugural meeting had been convened by the State Chairman.
Non opening and maintenance of a bank account in the name of the Party to be properly operated by the constitutionally authorized signatories of such an account. Art. 23: (i). Failure on his part to do this has created a room for mismanagement and embezzlement of Party funds by the State Chairman, and this involves quite a lot of funds as we speak. All funds meant for the State Chapter of the Party were directed by the State Chairman to be paid into his private individual account, corporate accounts or his cronies’ accounts.
Akwa Ibom State APC under the leadership of the State Chairman had virtually no functional secretariat as it has been intentionally maimed by the State Chairman.
The fortunes of APC in the last election (2023) would have been a lot better if the Party had any direction under the suspended Chairman. The suspended Deputy State Chairman had equally failed to provide the needed leadership as he would fix meetings and at the end of the day would not show up to chair such meetings.
To this end, the SWC of the Party sat and with a constitutional quorum backed number resolved to place the State Chairman, Obong Stephen Leo Ntukekpo and his Deputy on suspension pending the outcome of a Panel Enquiry set up to investigate the above and other constitutional breaches committed by the suspended Chairman against the Party.
In his place, Dr. Cyril Effiong Eneninyi Eneni, the Senatorial District Chairman of Eket Senatorial District has been elected by the State Working Committee (SWC) and ratified by the State Exco to act in the capacity of the State Chairman of the Party.
The following who were at the emergency meetings appended their signatures to the effect of the above resolution.
