The recent appointment of Chief Paulinus Akpeki as Acting State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, replacing Elder Omeni Sobotie—who is on medical leave—is a blatant affront to due process and a flagrant act of political recklessness.
This decision, orchestrated by the State Working Committee (SWC), is not only unconstitutional but also undermines the fragile unity of the party, threatening to plunge it into chaos.
Chief Akpeki, currently a Senatorial Vice Chairman, has no legal or moral grounds to assume the role of Acting Chairman, especially when there is a subsisting Deputy Chairman in the party.
The constitution of the APC is unequivocal in its stipulations, and this decision brazenly violates its provisions. By acting outside the framework of Article 14.2(i) and (ii) of the APC Constitution, which outlines the roles and responsibilities of deputy chairmen, the SWC has demonstrated either a willful ignorance or a deliberate misinterpretation of the party’s governing document.
For clarity, Article 14.2(iii) states that the two Deputy National Chairmen (North and South) shall act as National Chairman in the absence of the substantive Chairman from their zone. However, this clause applies to the national level, where there are two deputies. At the state level, there is only one Deputy Chairman, rendering the SWC’s argument baseless and an exercise in constitutional gymnastics.
The insistence on Akpeki’s appointment is an assault on the principles of equity and fairness enshrined in the party’s constitution. Article 14.4 further underscores the roles of deputies at various levels, emphasizing that they are to assist and deputize in the absence of their principals. By bypassing the Deputy Chairman in favor of a Senatorial Vice Chairman, the SWC has not only shown a disregard for established norms but has also set a dangerous precedent that could destabilize the party’s structure.
This maneuver reeks of an unpatriotic conspiracy to serve the interests of hidden paymasters rather than the collective good of the party. It is a betrayal of the party’s values and a disservice to its members, who deserve leadership rooted in integrity and accountability. Such actions are not only unacceptable but must be resoundingly condemned by all well-meaning party members.
The SWC’s decision is an ill-conceived excursion into irreversible political doom. Rather than fostering unity and preparing the party for the challenges ahead, it risks creating factions and eroding the trust of members. The appointment of Akpeki, under these circumstances, is a step backward and a glaring breach of the APC Constitution.
We, therefore, call on the SWC to rescind this decision immediately and uphold the constitution to which they swore allegiance. Failure to do so will leave us with no choice but to challenge the legitimacy of their actions in a lawful manner at the National Headquarters our great Party in Abuja . It is time for reason to prevail and for the SWC to prioritize the party’s cohesion over individual ambitions. The survival and success of our great party depend on it.
Prophet Jones Ode Erue.
Pioneer APC State Chairman
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