Akwa-Ibom Governor sacks 2 commissioners loyal to Akpabio

Two commissioners in the Akwa Ibom State Executive Council loyal to Senator Godswill Akpabio have been sacked by Governor Udom Emmanuel.

The sacked commissioners are Victor Antai of Culture and Tourism, and Ibanga Akpabio of Labour, Productivity and Manpower Planning.

The latter is a relative of the senator.

Both commissioners were seen among a jubilant crowd who thronged the Uyo Airport to welcome Akpabio yesterday ahead of his public defection to the All Progressives Congress today.

However, a statement issued yesterday evening by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Emmanuel Ekuwem, said Mr Antai and Mr Akpabio were sacked from the State Executive Council because of their “reluctance to comply with good governance processes of government”.

Mr Akpabio, who recently resigned from office as the Senate minority leader, ignited a political storm in Akwa Ibom over his planned defection from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He recently rounded-up a marathon visit to APC leaders, which had him traveling to London to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari, who is on a 10-day vacation.