Political tensions are rising in Akwa Ibom State as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) exchange accusations over the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) invitation of former Governor Udom Emmanuel.
The PDP has alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio is behind a scheme to tarnish Emmanuel’s reputation, a claim the APC strongly denies.
The controversy started after the EFCC summoned Emmanuel for questioning. The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, accused Akpabio of using the media to spread misleading information about the former governor.
“Our party is aware of a well-oiled scheme reportedly engineered by the Senate President to compromise a section of the media to spread false allegations against Udom Emmanuel,” Ologunagba said.
In response, the APC Media Network in Akwa Ibom dismissed these claims, arguing that Akpabio has no involvement in the issue. The group’s Director General, Iniobong John, released a statement in Uyo on Saturday, stating that the Senate President is focused on his national duties and not concerned with matters of this nature.
John also noted that the EFCC operates independently and investigates financial crimes without external influence. He argued that linking Akpabio to Emmanuel’s probe is baseless.
“The APC Media Network has been compelled to address the defamatory allegations made by the factional National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, Debo Ologunagba, against the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio,” John stated.
He further questioned whether Akpabio was also responsible for similar EFCC actions against former governors Yahaya Bello and Ifeanyi Okowa, suggesting that the PDP was making baseless claims to mislead the public.
“But we know that the press release by the factional National Publicity Secretary of the PDP was conceived and sponsored by the PDP government in Akwa Ibom State,” John said.
He accused unnamed individuals of using ethnic sentiments to spread false information about Akpabio’s alleged involvement in the case.
The APC Media Network also criticized the PDP for attempting to shift attention away from its own shortcomings by making unfounded allegations against the Senate President.
