A group of All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts across 29 of the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State have petitioned President Bola Tinubu, accusing the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, of engaging in anti-party activities and working against the growth of the APC in the state.
In a letter addressed to the president, copies of which were made available to journalists in Uyo on Tuesday, the party leaders alleged that Ekpo has been using his ministerial office to advance his 2031 governorship ambition, rather than consolidating the APC’s structure and preparing the party for the 2027 general elections.
The petitioners accused Ekpo of creating factions within the party, sidelining key members, and abandoning those who supported his ministerial nomination.
They described the minister’s conduct as amounting to a betrayal of trust and a manifestation of selfish interests.
“Rather than rallying members to support your second-term bid and strengthening our party’s structures in the state, he has been busy creating factions, sidelining, and ostracising those who do not support his 2031 gubernatorial ambition,” the statement read in part.
They further alleged that Ekpo has been boasting about amassing wealth to fund his political ambition, while abandoning loyal party members who stood by him during his appointment process.
The APC stalwarts also accused the minister of undermining Senate President Godswill Akpabio and attempting to create friction between him and the governor of Akwa Ibom State, warning that such actions could weaken the party’s unity and chances of electoral success.
“In light of these developments, we insist that the minister is a liability to your administration and a curse to our party in Akwa Ibom State.
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“His actions are unbecoming of a public servant and a leader in our party. We urge you to take immediate action to address this situation and restore the integrity of our party,” the letter concluded.
Reacting to the allegations, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the minister, Louis Ibah, dismissed the petition as “shallow, frivolous, and lacking substance,” insisting it was orchestrated by “political jobbers” who were not genuine members of the APC.
“We categorically dismiss this petition as a shallow, frivolous, and substanceless attempt by attention-seeking non-members of the APC to undermine Ekperikpe Ekpo’s reputation. The petition lacks merit and deserves no serious consideration,” Ibah said.
He described Ekpo as a loyal party man and a key supporter of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, highlighting his role in mobilizing support through the Akwa Ibom Democratic Forum (ADF) during the 2023 general elections.
Ibah said the minister has continued to demonstrate commitment to both the APC and national development by unlocking Nigeria’s natural gas potential, attracting investments, and creating jobs.
He assured party members that Ekpo’s dedication to Tinubu and the APC remains unwavering, adding that the minister would continue to strengthen the ruling party in Akwa Ibom State.
