In a bold challenge to the political status quo, the Coalition for Regional Development and Good Governance, alongside the Forum of Civil Society in Nigeria, has publicly denounced the recommendation of Obong Umana Okon Umana and other APC stalwarts from Akwa Ibom for ministerial appointments.
The group contests the individuals' eligibility on the basis of their alleged lack of commitment to the party during the last general elections.
In a statement jointly signed and released on Monday by Attahiru Shittu and Alhaji Bashir Maaji, on behalf of the coalition, they stated, "Those who failed to deliver votes from their polling unit, ward, and local government area, let alone their entire senatorial district, should be disqualified from the ministerial appointment list."
The group was referring to Umana and other names including Obong Nsima Ekere, Sen. Ita Solomon Enang, and Obong Akanimo Udofia, who are part of the self-proclaimed 'Akwa Ibom APC Renaissance.'
They said, "It's on record that these unregistered groups, who were known to have worked against the party during the last general elections, are now callously seeking ministerial positions for their incapacitated godfather."
The group further criticized these figures for their poor performance while serving under the previous administration.
"Those who served with the immediate past administration should not be allowed to make the list of the Asiwaju's ministerial appointments as they have poorly served the Nigerian people," they added.
The coalition cited vote distribution in the Uyo Senatorial District, where Obong Umana Okon Umana hails from, as evidence of his lack of commitment to the APC.
The APC secured only 43,294 votes against the PDP's 98,634, and 72% of the votes came from the Itu/Ibiono Federal Constituency, which, according to the coalition, deserves the ministerial appointment by the principle of zoning.
Furthermore the Senate President, Distinguish Senator Godswill Akpabio,who is a leader of party in the state and extension the entire south-south zone, his zone strategically recorded about 115,401 votes for the party against the PDP who scored 69,839, should be giving privilege to make input on who should be nominated as minister or any appointments from the state.
In contrast, the coalition pointed to the strategic success of Senator Godswill Akpabio in Akwa Ibom North-West and as a grand leader of the party in the zone has the right to recommend whoever he feels deserves the ministerial appointment from the state .