Before the All Progressives Congress (APC) State House of Assembly primaries in Akwa Ibom State, political leaders in the Ikot Ekpene state constituency said they would not accept any kind of consensus candidacy or automatic ticket for an unpopular candidate for the Ikot-Ekpene/Obot Akara State constituency seat.
They said that this kind of move was not only undemocratic, but it would also make the party more likely to lose the general elections if an unpopular candidate is chosen.
It is important to remember that the governor, Pastor Umo Eno, had asked party members in different places to peacefully and unanimously choose someone to carry the party’s flag at the primaries.
After a strategic stakeholders’ meeting of the APC on Wednesday, they held a press conference on Thursday and said that direct primary is the only fair, transparent, and democratic way to reflect the will of the people. This is because delegates and party members would be able to freely exercise their democratic right without being threatened, bribed, or forced.
Umoh Amadu, a former APC Assistant Secretary, spoke for the stakeholders and said that it was wrong for a few people to try to force a candidate on them who they say does not have real grassroots support. He said that this kind of move “is antithetical and unwelcome.”
Amadu said that their refusal to support a consensus candidate was not meant to hurt or help anyone, but to protect the interests of the two local governments and let the best son or daughter of the area win the direct primary.
Senator Godswill Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno both promised to support President Bola Tinubu’s reelection based on their work. However, Amadu said that the people of Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara were not ready to re-elect any representative who had done a terrible job.
He said, “APC Stakeholders in Ikot Ekpene strongly oppose the undemocratic plan of consensus candidacy/automatic ticket for anyone who wants to run for the Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara State Constituency seat in the upcoming All Progressives Congress (APC) State House of Assembly primaries.”
“Any process like consensus that lets a few people go against the wishes of the majority to put forward candidates who don’t have real grassroots support is against the spirit of internal democracy and goes against the APC constitution and the Electoral Act 2026’s principles of fair play.
“We ask our leaders not to put the whole community at risk for their own gain. They should let the popular candidate win our primary so that we can win our State constituency and deliver our Governor in the general election.
“This press conference is not meant to attack anyone or promote the interests of any one candidate. It is meant to promote the interests of the Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara State constituency so that we can all enjoy the full benefits of democracy.”
“We fully support our party, the APC, but we must say that our party can only be united and make progress if it treats all members fairly and respects their democratic rights.”
