Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has dismissed widespread insinuations that his son, Marshall Ekperikpe Ekpo, is in the race for the Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika federal constituency seat in 2027, under the platform of the opposition Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The minister, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ika local government area of Akwa Ibom State, expressed concern over the development, describing it as a deliberate concoction by political detractors aimed at putting his reputation in bad light.
Responding on behalf of his boss, media aide to the minister, Louis Ibah, dismissed the speculation as politically-motivated lies deliberately fabricated by their purveyors to blackmail the minister, whose political integrity and loyalty, he said, remain sacrosanct for the APC.
Ahead of the general polls, some political stakeholders in Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika federal constituency, LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered, have noted with consternation after the rumours of the alleged political aspiration of the Minister’s son continues to gathered momentum in the State.
“The minister’s son recently won the ticket of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to contest the Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika federal constituency seat in the party’s primary election,” one of the purveyors of what the minister described as a piece of fake news, was quoted as saying.
Some members of the ruling APC at the centre, who spoke on condition of the from the area who spoke condemned the purported action by the Minister’s son on another party’s platform.
Others also insinuated that the minister’s son was being encouraged and sponsored by the father to occupy the federal constituency seat, a development which, according to them, would adversely affect the electoral fortunes of the ruling party.
One of the stakeholders who pleaded anonimty, noted that “the political atmosphere in Abak Federal Constituency is very tense because we believe Minister Ekperikpe Ekpo, is playing anti-party politics.
“While his son reserves the right to contest as an adult on any party platform, but we are worried that his father’s influence could rob APC of victory in the area.
“There are serious questions about party loyalty, transparency and commitment to the ideals of party supremacy within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“For a serving APC Minister to allegedly sponsor or encourage a direct family member on the platform of another political party means that APC in the Minister’s Local Government stands on one leg and can only be interpreted at it’s best as an act capable of undermining party unity and weakening internal confidence among loyal party faithful.
“This may even contribute to massive failure for candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC from the President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President, Chief Godswill Akpabio to all other candidates in the party” another stakeholder said.
“It is not true that any of the Minister’s sons was contesting any election. It is nothing but cheap blackmail to discredit the Minister for political reasons,” Ibah, stressed and urged the general public to disregard the fake news
