There was heavy tension yesterday as the All Progressives Congress APC Primaries kicked off in a bloody note in Awka Ibom state with Senator J.J. Udoedeghe and President Muhammad Buhari’s aide, Senator Ita Enang fighting dirty at the party’s Secretariat along Ikot Ekpene road in Uyo.
File Photo
IGBERE TV correspondent reports that the squabbles started when election materials for the primary election arrived the Akwa Ibom Airport, Uyo, via a chartered flight reportedly owned by the APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu.
The election materials were subsequently transfered from the airport to the party secretariat in Uyo, accompanied by party chieftains and heavy security.
The materials had barely arrived the party office when Senator Ita Enang in connivance with Senator Godswill Akpabio, allegedly started making moves to hijack materials, a move that was vehemently resisted by Udoedeghe. An angry Enang was alleged to have pushed Udoedeghe in the process, a move that sparked tension forcing Udoedeghe to warn the presidential aide against any attempt to rig the process.
Alleged moves by Ita Enang to divert the materials through the back door infuriated Udoedeghe who reportedly slapped Enang. This was followed with severe punches on the Ibiono born Senator. In disorientation, Enang who was battling to escape the cold hands of hot blows, held Udoedeghe’s hands and bit it before fleeing to escape.
Unknown to Ita Enang, youth loyal to Udoedgehe had before now deflated Enang’s car, making his attempt to escape from the party office difficult. It took spirited effort by security agents in the convoy of the Managing Director of the NDDC, Nsima Ekere, to whisk Enang to safety.
According to reports, Senator Udoedeghe who is one of the Governorship aspirant accused Ita Enang of being a betrayer. He insisted that he will resist any attempt to rig the primary, harping that all aspirants be allowed to go to the field to test their popularity as anything short of that will be unacceptable to him.
“They say they are popular. They have been boasting how they will use money to win but I have the people. Why come to the party secretariat with thugs using bullet proof vests if you are popular? Let’s go to the field and allow the people decide who they want”, he said.
Efforts to get the reaction of Ita Enang proved abortive. His media aide, Essien Inyang also declined comments when asked of the incidence by reporters. Unconfirmed reports say Ita Enang was receiving medical attention at an undisclosed medical facility. The state APC publicity secretary, Mr Nkereuwem Enyongekere did not also pick his calls or responded to text messages sent to his phone on the matter.
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