The aggrieved members of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, have, demanded a replacement of their party’s Chairmanship candidate on grounds of alleged involvement in crimes ranging from stealing, cultism, kidnapping, etc.
This allegation was made in a letter tagged: “An Open letter to His Excellency, Dcn Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Leader of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state”, a copy of which was obtained by The Profile Newspaper via www.theprofilenews.com.
The PDP members in the letter wondered why the leadership of the party in the state would present the party’s flag to an individual without running a security check on such a person, considering the enormity of such mistake. They gave the governor a two-week ultimatum to hearken to their demand.
Parts of the letter read: “Every clearance for a political office is based on security reports on every aspirant except in Ibiono Ibom. Despite various security reports against Hon Ekom Sunday Akpan, you dared Ibiono Ibom people and imposed him on us, after all the emperor is always right. We had prayed and believed that we had seen the last emperor in your predecessor.
“In 2012, Hon. Godwin Ekpo, the then Ibiono Ibom Local Government Council was kidnapped. Hon. EkomAbasi and Hon. Akaninyene Akpanso, serving counselors (sic) under Ekpo, were mentioned as being responsible. While Hon. Akpanso was picked up, and to this day has not returned, Hon. EkomAbasi Sunday Akpan escaped and remained in hiding for over one year.
“Not too long ago, Hon EkomAbasi Akpan removed the only water pump from his village borehole and sold. Any person including the village head who dares to ask him the whereabouts of the pump is instantly beaten up by his thugs and henchmen”.
Meanwhile, The Profile Newspaper has obtained series of petitions written against the PDP Chairmanship flag bearer, Hon EkomAbasi Akpan. One of such petitions captioned: “Letter of Warning”, addressed to the Chairman, Ibiono Ibom L.G.A, was written on December 10, 2008 by the Afua Village Council in which they accused Hon. EkomAbasi Akpan, who was then the Councilor representing Ibiono Ibom North Ward 7 in Ibiono Ibom Legislative Council of being architect of various crimes in the area.
The letter which was signed by Chief U.U. Etok, reads thus in part: “It was surprising to note that the same EkomAbasi incited, supported, instigated and sponsored the youths to rebel against the leadership of Chief Daniel Ndarake Askpan(sic) thereby causing chaos and serious criminal assault occasioning harm and stealing, etc…”.
Our Paper also obtained from a police source a petition written on May 7, 2013, by the same Afua Village Council and signed by the Village Head, Chief Daniel Ndarake Akpan and family heads, addressed to the Akwa Ibom State’s Commissioner of Police. The village council accused EkomAbasi and others of allegedly embezzling the village funds and converting the village’s property to private use, among other crimes.
Our police source also furnished The Profile Newspaper with a complaint, which was written on 10th May, 2017, signed by Edet J. Udo Esq. of the Okuku Chambers, Ikot Ekpene Road, Uyo, who acted as solicitors for Chief Daniel Ndarake Akpan of Afua Village. The Petition which was sent to the State Police Command is titled: “Complaint Impersonation, Assault and Attempt to Kidnap the Village Head of Afua Village in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area”, allegedly accused Ekomabasi Akpan and others of attempting to kidnap and kill the Village Head.
Our paper also obtained a similar petition from the State Secretariat of the PDP, dated September 13, 2017, in which the Afua Village council passed a Vote of no Confidence on the Hon. EkomAbasi Sunday Akpan, who was then an aspirant for the party’s chairmanship ticket. The petition which was signed by the Village Head, Secretary and Youth Leader, was also copied to the State Governor, Paramount Ruler of Ibiono Ibom L.G.A and other relevant quarters.
In the petition, the Village Council, among other allegations, accused Hon EkomAbasi Akpan of allegedly embezzling the sum of Two Million Naira (N2, 000 000.00) meant for developmental projects.
Efforts to reach the Ibiono Ibom PDP chairmanship candidate for comments on the allegations proved abortive as he was said to be busy on electioneering when our team visited the Ikot Aba campaign office. Click Below the Petitions from PDP, Afua Village and others.
AN OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY
