The rumoured hidden romance between the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the All Progressive Congress (APC), which almost went public recently when a newly ‘inducted’ chieftain of the party, Bishop Samuel Akpan, celebrated his 60th birthday, has been confirmed.
A statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of APC, Barr. Edet Bassey, which in a way admitted to a long eng enjoyed romance with the Senate Minority Leader, said it did not approved to the visit to his Ukana country home on the platform of Akwa Ibom Peoples Forum (AKPF).
“The State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is aware of a scheduled visit tomorrow, Saturday 8th July 2017 by a socio-political Group, Akwa Ibom Peoples Forum (AKPF) and its leadership to the country home of former Governor and now Senate Majority Leader, Obong Godswill Akpabio at Ukana Ikot Ntuen, Essien Udim Local Government Area.”
“A letter of invitation purposing ‘A Moment with Senator Akpabio’ and signed by the leader of the Group, Bishop Samuel Akpan who recently publicly identified with APC is being extended to prominent members of the Party to attend the event.”
“A search conducted by the Party revealed that AKPF is an Incorporated Trustee with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) with statutory rights including the right of public assembly. Further information revealed that Obong Godswill Akpabio is a Grand Patron of the Group and the proposed visit is in furtherance of felicitation with his recent constituency briefings.”
The party futher said “While APC cannot infringe on such rights of assembly, we wish to draw the attention of the general public particularly our party men and women that the proposed visit by AKPF to Obong Godswill Akpabio’s country home has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with APC. Akwa Ibom APC wishes in clear and unequivocal terms to disassociate itself from the proposed visit to Ukana Ikot Ntuen. Bishop Samuel Akpan and his Group and any member of the Party thereof who wishes to visit Senator Akpabio in his country home as schedule is entitled to do so in their individual capacity but definitely not under the name and banner of APC.”
“For emphasis, we wish to state once again that the party is not connected or in any way associated with AKPF and the propose visit. Please be guided accordingly,” the statement concluded.
The alleged meeting, our reporter gathered, has been rescheduled for Friday, July 14, 2017, same venue and time.
