A major internal crisis has erupted within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Akwa Ibom State after two governorship aspirants, Hon. Eyakekpono Obo and Senator John Udoedeghe, reportedly emerged through separate processes ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The development has thrown the party’s state chapter into confusion and heightened tensions among party members, with both camps laying claim to the governorship ticket.
The dispute is also threatening to deepen divisions within the party as concerns grow over possible legal battles and internal instability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The crisis further escalated after another governorship aspirant, Barrister Mfon Peter, rejected the outcome of the governorship primary that produced Udoedeghe as candidate.
Peter vowed to challenge the process, insisting that the exercise was marred by irregularities and failed to comply with the party’s laid-down procedures.
Party faithful across the state have reportedly expressed disappointment over the emergence of parallel candidates, warning that the situation could weaken the ADC’s chances in the forthcoming governorship contest if unresolved.
Speaking with journalists in Uyo on Wednesday, Peter alleged that the primary election was characterised by widespread voter disenfranchisement, manipulation, and serious electoral malpractice.
According to him, the results announced on Sunday by the Chairman of the Primaries Electoral Committee, Mr Titus Ejoor, did not reflect the true wishes of party members.
“Sincerely, I reject that result in its entirety. That result is completely false, and I reject it with all that I have. It is completely concocted,” he declared.
Peter further claimed that he was completely excluded from the governorship primary exercise conducted in the state.
“I was with the ADC primary election committee at 6 PM on Friday. By 7 PM, they told me they were in my ward. I arrived at my ward in Ibiono Ibom and saw them,” he said.
“At what time were they able to conduct elections in the 349 wards in Akwa Ibom State and in 31 local government areas?” he queried.
The governorship aspirant alleged that many party members were denied the opportunity to participate in the voting process, arguing that the conduct of the election violated the ADC’s electoral guidelines.
“Apart from the fact that elections were not conducted in more than 20 local government areas in Akwa Ibom State, they rescheduled the election for Saturday, May 23, without informing me or my supporters, who were out in the field waiting for them throughout Friday,” he alleged.
Peter also questioned the legitimacy of the process held on Saturday, insisting that neither he nor his supporters received official communication regarding the continuation of the exercise.
“Then on Saturday, they said the election was ongoing. Who were the voters? Who communicated to the voters that the election was ongoing, or that the election that was slated for Friday was to take place again on Saturday?” he asked.
“I ought to have known that the election would also hold on Saturday. I wasn’t in the field, my supporters were not in the field, but the election results were published.”
“That is why I reject the results. None of my agents signed those result sheets because I was completely excluded,” he added.
Peter further accused his opponent of allegedly influencing members of the election committee to manipulate the process in his favour.
“My opponent, all he did was carry the election committee members along, driving them from one place to another to ensure that they did what they did to secure that kind of false victory. But it won’t stand,” he alleged.
He maintained that several local government areas across the state did not witness any form of election during the exercise.
“There was no election in Oron and in the entire Eket senatorial district. Apart from Ibiono Ibom, where they came, and I was on the ground, and maybe in Uyo, those people were not able to cover Nsit Ibom, Uruan, Ibesikpo Asutan, and other areas that same day,” Peter claimed.
The aspirant also accused party officials of violating established guidelines regarding accreditation and voting timelines.
“The party guidelines state that accreditation starts at 8 AM and ends at 12 noon. From 12 noon, the election starts and ends by 2 PM. Ask him (Akpanudoedehe), when did the election commence?” he questioned.
He further alleged that he was denied the opportunity to nominate representatives to monitor the process on his behalf.
“I was excluded from nominating the three persons who were supposed to join the committee from my end, to also see what was going on there,” he said.
“The committee knew this, but they overlooked it and went ahead to conduct the election with the mindset of returning my opponent.”
According to Peter, the entire process was fundamentally flawed from the outset.
“It means that, from day one, ab initio, the election was fraudulent. And it cannot stand,” he stated.
The governorship aspirant disclosed that he had already submitted a formal petition to the party’s Governorship Election Appeal Committee.
He expressed confidence that the committee would review the evidence and nullify the outcome of the disputed primary election.
“I know that the Appeal Committee, when they look at the facts and evidence before them, will have no other option but to nullify the election so that we can go back to the polls,” he said.
“If they fail to do so, I will seriously litigate this process,” Peter warned.
The controversy surrounding the governorship primaries is expected to further intensify internal tensions within the ADC in Akwa Ibom State as the party prepares for the 2027 elections.
