Anger as A’Ibom UPN delegate congress got postponed indefinitely

Delegates to the state congress of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) Akwa Ibom state chapter yesterday left the congress venue disappointed as the congress was abruptly  put off hours after commencement.

Over one thousand delegates drawn from the 31 local government Areas of the state had converged at Helema Event Centre, Mutual Estate, Aka Itiam, Uyo the state capital venue for the party’s state delegate congress as early as 9 am to elect state officers of the party.

The delegates and party faithful who had besieged the venue of the congress waited for several hours for the state and national leaders to formally commence the congress were disappointed when a National officer of the party, Engr. Jimmy Utauma arrived the venue to inform the aspirant and party faithful of a directive from the national headquarter of the party that “the congress be put off”.

Utauma cited security and logistics problems as reasons why the party leadership deemed it necessary to postpone the delegate congress to a later date.  

He appealed to aspirants and party loyalist to bear with party for taking the decision to discontinue the congress. “We are sorry for keeping you waiting for this long. I am happy with the attendance for the congress, you know am not the owner of the party I am only representing the party leadership in the state. 

  I can see everybody is ready for the congress but we have directives from the national headquarters of our great party to postpone today’s state congress to a later date which will be communicated to in due course.”
 The national leader added that the decision to put forward the congress to a later date came to him as a shock considering the level of preparation and sacrifice of members of the party towards a successful state delegate congress.  

While assuring members of the party’s commitment to ensuring internal democracy in the party, he noted that the party is rooted in the philosophy of the legendary chief Obafemi Awolowo , and expressed confidence that the great ideals which the late sage was known for will be their guiding principle. 

 One of the delegates,Mr Akwawo Akpan expressed disappointment over postponement told newsmen at  the venue the leadership of the party were not fair to its member for cancelling the congress two hour into the event. 

According to Akpan ,  “How can you bring over one thousand party members from the 31 Local Government Areas of the state for party congress only to tell them to return to their homes without conducting the congress.” 

A woman leader, who gave her name as madam Antai Gift, expressed regrets that she spent a lot of money mobilizing women across the local governments areas of the state only to be disappointed with a postpone notice.