Tension is rising in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, as members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) staged a protest against what they described as a clandestine attempt by party “bigwigs” to dissolve the existing ward and chapter structures ahead of the party’s congresses slated for February 18 and 21.

The protesters, mainly serving ward and chapter executives converged at Mkpat Enin Local Government Secretariat on Sunday to denounce alleged plans to impose new lists of officers to replace the current leadership.

They said the rumoured move followed the recent defection of influential figures from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the APC, warning that such actions could trigger internal crisis and weaken the party’s unity.

Speaking during the protest, Mr. Clement Okon Silas, former APC Vice-Chairmanship candidate in the October 2024 Local Government elections, accused the defectors of attempting to hijack the party’s structure.

“We are the goose that laid the golden egg. We suffered, laboured and built this party in Mkpat Enin. But barely six months after PDP bigwigs defected into APC, they are now plotting to evict us from the same party we struggled to grow,” Silas said.

He argued that if the defectors were dissatisfied with their current political offices, they should relinquish them rather than forcibly take over party structures.

“If the PDP bigwigs who defected six months ago now feel that their positions as commissioners, special advisers, local government chairmen, House of Assembly members, councillors, supervisors and ward personal assistants are not useful, they should exchange those offices with us. Let us swap places,” he declared.

Another protester, Hon. Ubong Inyang, described the alleged plot as “an ambush on APC structures” in Mkpat Enin, warning that it could escalate into a major embarrassment for the party.

“These bigwigs are the problem. If this is not nipped in the bud, it will cause disaffection and crisis. We have worked tirelessly to raise this party. We cannot now be pushed aside with ignominy,” he said.

The demonstrators carried placards bearing inscriptions such as:

“Governor Umo Eno, is you we know, please help and call your appointees to order,”

“They are causing crisis in APC with PDP tendencies, We built the party, save us from illegal dissolution,” and “Gov. Eno, a man of peace, our support for you, Senate President Akpabio and President Tinubu for second term is not negotiable.”

They also lamented that, despite their loyalty and sacrifices, they had not benefited from any appointments since the party’s rise in the state, claiming that most positions were now dominated by former PDP members.

“We have not benefited anything after our struggle and steadfastness. All the PAs, SAs, Local Government and commissioner appointments came from PDP. What is our own?” one protester queried.

At the end of the demonstration, the group issued a communiqué reaffirming their loyalty to the APC leadership led by Obong Stephen Ntokekpo at the state, Mkpat Enin Chapter Chairman, Hon. Utitofon Jeremiah and national levels.

The communiqué read in part:

“We, the ward and chapter officers of the party in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, declare our total support for His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, and his development initiatives under the ARISE Agenda.

“As the political leader of the party in the state, we pledge our unalloyed support to all your policies, programmes and initiatives.

“Our support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno for a second term is total, and we do not need anything that will distract us from defending this mandate to logical conclusion.”

They appealed to Governor Umo Eno, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and President Bola Tinubu to intervene and halt what they termed an “unprogressive plot” to destabilise the party.

The protesters advised that, for peace to reign, the existing party structures in Mkpat Enin from ward to chapter levels should remain intact, warning that any attempt to impose new executives could fracture the party and weaken its electoral fortunes.