The youths were angry over the alleged attempts by former senate minority leader and former governor of the state, Godswill Akpabio, to substitute the name of the winner of the federal constituency primaries with his preferred nominee, Victor Antai who was a former Commissioner of Culture in the state.
A philanthropist, Robinson Ebumoh, who reportedly won the primaries of the APC had his name missing on the list allegedly approved by the state chapter of the party, which carried the name of former state Commissioner for Culture, Victor Antai, the preferred candidate of Akpabio.
The protesters carried placards with the inscriptions, ‘Akpabio Leave Oro Nation Alone’, among others, as the youths vowed to resist his imposition in the area.
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Antai, was said to have resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following his inability to pick the Eket senatorial district ticket of the party, and decided to defect with Senator Akpabio to the APC, with the intention of grabbing the senatorial ticket.
A member of the state chapter of the party who spoke on condition of anonymity, said
“What is happening today shows clearly that the blood of Chief Ononokpon, Onyong Asukwo, Okon Uwah, Ukpanah, Ime Unamah, Ekpenyong Brothers, Eka Udonwa, Paul Inyang and the rest of the innocent Akwa Ibom people murdered in cold blood by this same party chieftains are hunting them. This is just the beginning of more anarchy to come. The more reason Akwa Ibom people must be careful with some demons of yesterday parading as saints of today”, he said.