“APC Congress in Akwa Ibom Was Like a Communion Service” — Akpabio

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has praised the conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) state congress in Akwa Ibom State, describing the exercise as calm and orderly.

Akpabio made the remarks on Tuesday while attending the party’s congress at Uyo Township Stadium in Uyo.

Speaking at the event, the senate president compared the atmosphere of the congress to a church gathering.

> “But here we are in Akwa Ibom state conducting the congress as if we are in a church to take communion,” he said.

Akpabio said the peaceful exercise contrasted with earlier congresses in the state that were often marked by internal divisions and parallel gatherings by rival factions.

He recalled that in the past, some party members held separate congresses at hotels while others gathered at official venues, creating disputes over which outcome the party leadership would recognise.

The senate president also noted that officials sent from Abuja to supervise previous congresses sometimes required security protection.

According to him, the calm proceedings in the current congress reflected consultations within the party and what he described as inclusive leadership by the state governor, Umo Eno.

Akpabio said the ward, local government and state congresses were conducted without reported incidents and added that the development could set the tone for future elections in the state.

During the gathering, party members also pledged support for the re-election of Bola Tinubu, as well as Akpabio and Eno.

In his remarks, Eno thanked the senate president for attending the congress, saying his presence added significance to the exercise. The governor also expressed appreciation for the peaceful conduct of the party’s congresses across the state.