APC Sacks Ukanafun Treasurer Over Alleged Double Party Membership

The political landscape in Akwa Ibom State has been jolted by a fresh scandal as the All Progressives Congress in Ukanafun Local Government Area announced the suspension of its chapter treasurer, Ukobong Ibekwe. The move comes amid startling allegations that the official has been operating as a “double agent,” maintaining an active executive position within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party while simultaneously holding a sensitive leadership role in the ruling APC. The suspension, formalised in a letter dated January 7, has ignited a wider debate about the authenticity of recent high-profile defections in the state.

The controversy reportedly began to unfold following the mass movement of politicians into the APC after Governor Umo Eno’s defection in June 2025. According to the letter signed by Ukanafun APC Chairman Akaninyene Ukpanah, Ibekwe had originally moved to the PDP during the 2023 general elections. He purportedly returned to the APC under the waiver granted to returning members following the Governor’s switch. However, internal investigations by the party allegedly revealed that Ibekwe never actually relinquished his status as a chapter officer within the PDP hierarchy.

The APC leadership has presented a laundry list of grievances against the suspended treasurer, painting a picture of deliberate political duplicity. The party claims that Ibekwe has been seen attending secret meetings of both political organisations within Ukanafun, a conduct they described as a grave violation of the APC constitution. Most damaging is the allegation that he has been double-dipping into financial stipends. The party asserts that Ibekwe has been collecting monthly payments from the state government intended for APC chapter officers while also drawing benefits as a PDP official.

Beyond financial misconduct, the party accused Ibekwe of opportunistic behavior during the distribution of palliatives. He was reportedly spotted at the Ukana residence of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, where he allegedly collected bags of rice intended for APC faithful by presenting himself as a loyalist of the ruling party. The Ukanafun APC leadership stated that it would not condone such “dishonest practices and impersonation,” citing Article 21:2 (vii) of their constitution as the legal basis for his immediate removal from the executive committee.

This internal rift serves as a microcosm of the larger political tension gripping Akwa Ibom since Governor Umo Eno joined the APC to align with President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Akpabio. The Governor has consistently promoted a vision of “Akwa Ibom United,” a slogan intended to foster cross-party collaboration. However, critics within the PDP and skeptics within the APC are increasingly viewing this philosophy as a Trojan horse that has allowed “disguised loyalists” to infiltrate the government’s inner circle for personal gain.

The suspension of Ibekwe has provided fresh ammunition for PDP stalwarts who feel betrayed by the Governor’s departure. Michael Bush, a prominent journalist and PDP chieftain, recently lashed out at the “Akwa Ibom United” mantra, labeling it a euphemism for political deceit. His comments followed reports that some of the Governor’s aides were dismissed simply for attending a PDP national convention in Ibadan, suggesting that the spirit of unity is often abandoned when partisan interests are at stake.

The atmosphere in Uyo has become increasingly suspicious, with veteran politicians like Mfon Ben warning that loyalty in the state is now driven more by access to power than by any real ideological conviction. Ben, a lawyer and former local government chairman, argued that the Governor is likely aware of the “betrayers” within his own cabinet, noting that many officials still harbor deep-seated sympathies for their former party. The Ibekwe case is being viewed by many as a confirmation of these fears, highlighting the difficulty of merging two historically rivalrous political structures.

As the 2026 political calendar advances, the APC in Akwa Ibom is facing the arduous task of vetting its rapidly growing membership. The Ukanafun incident has prompted calls for a more rigorous audit of the party’s executive lists at the grassroots level to ensure that those holding key positions are not still on the payroll of the opposition. For Ibekwe, the suspension marks a significant fall from grace, but for the state’s political watchers, it is merely the latest chapter in a saga of shifting loyalties and the complex reality of “Akwa Ibom United.”