Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State have declared that the newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) from their state, Mr Etekamba Umoren is not their member.
According to the APC leaders, they know Mr Etekamba Umoren as a technocrat who has also held several offices in the state but not a card carrying member of their party.
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) through their leader, Awwal Musa Rafsanjani said they reject totally, appointment of partisan people as RECs by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Specifically, the CSOs said Mr Etekamba Umoren from Akwa Ibom State and Mr Isah Shaka Ehimeakne from Edo State are believed to be card-carrying members of the APC.
It was gathered that Umoren served as an aide to the current President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, when he was the governor of Akwa Ibom State. He also served as the Chief of Staff to the President of the Senate when he was the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
But speaking to journalists, yesterday, the leader of the 2023 APC Candidates Forum in Akwa-Ibom State, Hon Eseme Eyibo, said his party has instructed them to clear the air concerning the REC issue, adding that he is not their member.
“We are aware of the petitions against him. The law is that the person to be appointed as REC should not be a card carrying member. Umoren is not a card carrying member of our party. He was appointed permanent secretary, he is a technocrat and to the best of our knowledge, not a card carrying member of APC.
“There is a difference between a political party appointment and a government appointment. The law states clearly who is a member of a political party.
A member must be a financial contributor.
“If they are in a rally, that does not make them members of political parties. Wearing a cloth at a political party rally when your boss is there does not make you a member of the political party.
“Those opposed to this should come out with a register to prove he is a member of our party. We are in the days of AI where someone can carry my picture now and say I wear a suit,” Eyibo added.
