BY SOLOMON OKPO
A controversial attempt to suspend Rt. Hon. Eseme Eyiboh from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ward 9, Esit Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, has ignited internal discord, with allegations of forgery and threats of legal action casting doubt on the legitimacy of the move.
The crisis escalated following a sworn affidavit by an Ex-Officio member of the ward, Prophet Edet Ben, at the High Court in Uyo, in which he disowned the entire suspension process. He described the action as fraudulent and non-existent, insisting that no ward meeting was convened on April 22, 2026, to deliberate on any disciplinary measures.
Ben further alleged that his name and signature were unlawfully included in an attendance list linked to the purported suspension. He also rejected a “Letter of Suspension” circulated to party leadership at both the chapter and state levels, maintaining that he neither participated in nor endorsed any such decision.
In a separate notice, the ward official demanded an immediate removal of his name from all related documents, a public retraction, and a halt to the use of his identity without consent. He warned that failure to comply within 24 hours would result in legal action.
The disputed suspension, reportedly initiated by a faction within the ward, accused Eyiboh, Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity of anti-party activities.
However, the allegation has drawn criticism from within party ranks, particularly given Eyiboh’s recent role in mobilising grassroots support for key APC figures, including President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Governor Umo Eno.
A grassroots political group, Ward Nine New Era (WNNE), had earlier dismissed the suspension as “malicious, baseless, and void,” questioning both the credibility of the ward executives behind the action and the rationale for targeting Eyiboh alone.
The group pointed out that several prominent stakeholders who participated in the same community endorsement meeting were not subjected to similar disciplinary measures. Among those listed were former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Sir Bassey Dan-Abia; former Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bassey Essien; former lawmaker, Hon. (Dr.) Usoro Akpan-Uso; and former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. (Dr.) Ini Adiakpan, among others.
WNNE maintained that due process was not followed and urged party members to disregard the suspension.
Political observers have since described the development as a “self-defeating contradiction,” arguing that labelling pro-party mobilisation efforts as anti-party conduct exposes internal inconsistencies and risks undermining party cohesion.
With mounting allegations of procedural breaches, identity misuse, and internal dissent, what began as a disciplinary action has rapidly evolved into a legal and political liability, further deepening divisions within the ward chapter of the APC.
