It has been reported that John Monday Marcus, Ward 2 APC chairman in Ukanafun LGA, Akwa Ibom State, was fatally stabbed with a broken bottle during a violent confrontation. Initial reports suggested the attacker was a PDP supporter upset over the diversion of funds meant to reward grassroots leaders amid recent mass defections to APC.
According to these reports, a local politician who had recently defected donated cash intended to thank leaders of both APC and PDP. Marcus reportedly pocketed the second tranche of the money, leading to anger. An eyewitness, Mfon Akpan, said:
“even some APC members were annoyed by his action and descended on him, smashing his head with broken bottles…”
Marcus reportedly died on the spot, and his body was taken to the mortuary.
However an insider who appealed to remain anonymous offered critical clarifications.
In his words:
“It is true the ward chairman was stabbed with a broken bottle and was killed, but what is not true is whether the suspect is from the PDP or APC. Information gathered is that the suspect is one of those boys that deemed the light of Ukanafun’s progress and could have escaped through the waterways. Informations also reaching us claimed that the suspect is an APC member, all this informations are yet to be confirmed as to who the suspect truly is or his whereabout. His identity is not known for now, but we await this information.”
He further explained:
“What led to this, was the money that was given to be shared. The said ward chairman had shared the first portion of the said money given but kept the second portion to be shared between stakeholders. Information reaching was that they insisted the money be shared too and somehow it led to bottle being broken and not because of joining the party, lies cooked to create uprising. Shame on this reporter.”
This tragic incident underscores deepening tensions in Ukanafun following the June 5, 2025 mass defections of Governor Umo Eno and several key figures from PDP to APC. Amid this realignment, internal friction—especially over distribution of resources—appears to be fueling grassroots disputes.
