The Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, Chief Aniekan Akpan, yesterday congratulated Governor Godswill Akpabio on his victory at the governorship elections. He urged other political parties to deepen democracy by accepting the outcome of the election.
In a solidarity message to Akpabio, Akpan said the state ACN chapter chose to accept the results of the governorship election in Akwa Ibom state as representing the wishes of the people freely and fairly expressed in the election of April 26. He said, “I advise all members of our party/candidates, as democrats, to accept the results of the 2011 elections which has been globally adjudged as the freest and fairest in the history of our country and in the interest of the unity, progress and peaceful co-existence of our state and nation.
He appealed to the governor to discountenance the purported press conference organised by Dr.Udoma Bob Ekarika for the party to discredit the result of the elections, saying it was his personal opinion which did not receive the blessing and authorization of the party. However, the ACN governorship candidate, Senator John Akpanudoede, said he has faulted the results and that he would seek redress on the issue.
Meanwhile, the ACN has suspended Akpan for anti-party activities. The ACN made this known yesterday in Uyo after an emergency meeting of its executive, and appointed the former deputy chairman of the party, Dr. Amadu Attai, as the new acting chairman.
Addressing journalists yesterday in Uyo, the new acting chairman, Dr. Amadu Attai, said that the party has completely dissociated itself from the action of Akpan, and added that at no such time did the party authorize such falsehood as conveyed by the former chairman.
Attai explained that as a law abiding party, a notice had been dispatched to Akpan to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee within seven days.