RT. HON. PAUL OWO, INI APC CHAPTER CHAIRMAN INDICTED FOR FRAUD

…elders, youths sign petition to suspend them
…alleged to have embezzled funds and worked against party

There seems to be no letting up on the crisis of confidence that continues to rock some Chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State. The most recent is from Ini Local Government Area Chapter of the Party.

Our reporter has sighted a copy of a petition dated 22/1/2018 written and signed by some “loyal members” of the party in the local government area comprising Caucus members, stakeholders, elders, youths, Chapter and Ward officers amongst others has been forwarded to the State Chairman of the Party Dr. Amadu Atai. The petition titled “VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE/SUSPENSION FROM OFFICE” allege that the trio of the Chapter Chairman (Mr. Emmanuel Inyang Nneke), State Officer (Engr. Okon Nyah) and Rt. Hon. Paul Akpan Owo (who has been parading himself as the Local Government Caucus Chairman) have grossly misconducted themselves by embezzling/misappropriating party funds, engaging in anti-party activities and engaging in several other vices which have brought the party in the area into disrepute.

Chief amongst the allegations against the trio is that they compromised and traded the December 2, 2018 Local Government Council elections to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). Close watchers will confirm that Ini Local Government is noted as one of the comfort zones of the opposition in the State. In recent history, the opposition has always had a favourable outing in Ini Local Government Area hence the last outing was suspected to have been compromised since there was no resistance or showing of any sort.

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Many believe that because of the unstable and suspect antecedents of Rt. Hon. Paul Owo (a.k.a. POWO), anything sinister could have happened behind the scenes to the detriment of the APC since he was “in charge”.

The petition alleged that the Chapter Chairman had mobilized thugs to harass and brutalize party members who were invited for a meeting. The Chairman is also accused of embezzling sums totaling N600, 000. 00 obtained from prospective elders of the party in the Local Government. He is alleged to have commandeered bags of rice given to the Chapter for distribution. He is alleged to have acted in cahoots with Hon. Paul Owo and misappropriated the sum of N2, 000, 000. 00 meant for funding party celebration to welcome defectors. This move was seen as the height of insensitivity on the side of Hon. Paul Owo who by this act frustrated the publicized reception for Prof. Ini Udoka (a two-time Member of the House of Representatives) and others into the party. Some believe that Prof. Udoka’s entry into the party would further cement the fortunes of the party at the polls – a position which ran counter to Paul Owo’s machinations.

Receiving the crowd in his office, the State Chairman of the party thanked the members for their maturity and enjoined them to maintain the peace. He said party officers could only be removed or disciplined according to the party Constitution and noted that the Ini Chapter of the Caucus had not been inaugurated.

Speaking earlier, one of the leaders of the delegation and a retired Principal General of Schools Mr. Mike Ebio said they were compelled to take steps to address hidden defects in the structure of the party in the area so as to properly reposition it for success at the polls. He noted that Rt. Hon. Paul Owo was a virus that must be uprooted if any meaningful progress was to be achieved politically in the area.

Speaking in the same vein, Pastor Nseyo Abasiekong thanked the State Chairman for making himself available and restated the commitment of members of APC in Ini Local Government Area to work assiduously for the success of the party at the polls.