The Vice Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Area, Hon. Emmanuel Yakubu, has announced his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing physical abuse, persistent marginalization, abandonment, and lack of support from party leadership and the Chairman of the Council, Hon. Chris Agbeh.
He also accused the chairman of refusing to honour his debt after he loaned him a certain sum. THE WHISTLER was unable to verify this claim as the chairman was unavailable for comment.
Yakubu, who made the announcement via a statement on Wednesday said the decision came after enduring a prolonged period of neglect and disrespect, despite serving the APC loyally with what he described as his “power, might, finances and emotions.”
“It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of my decision to resign my membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC),” Yakubu wrote.
“I have served as Vice Chairman… a position afforded me by our great party… It is regrettable that my supporters and I have perpetually been kept out in the scheme of things.”
Hon. Yakubu accused Chairman Chris Agbeh of running a “one-man show” in the local government, excluding him from critical decisions, meetings, and council matters.
“The chairman has never asked my input in anything that concerns the council — appointments, committees, projects, and even the cosmetic empowerment he tried to do,” he lamented.
He also detailed several instances of alleged humiliation, including being shouted at in front of visitors during a UNHCR project briefing and being denied access to his official residence since inauguration.
“The chairman has refused me access to my official quarters. I have been living in the Oquango Hotel since my inauguration — at my expense. This can be verified by the hotel’s management,” he wrote.
“Not a penny has been paid to me for accommodation.”
Yakubu also highlighted his personal sacrifices to keep the party viable in his ward, including major grassroots mobilization and financial expenditures.
He claimed the party asked him to “collapse the PDP” in Urban Ward II — a mission he claims to have nearly achieved.
“The defections were so intense that the Leader of the PDP, Sen. Jarigbe Agom, became worried and was almost counting out Urban Ward II as his stronghold,” Yakubu wrote.
“But sustaining a political structure is very expensive and the leadership of the APC are doing nothing to help in that regard.”
In a particularly damning claim, Yakubu alleged that Chairman Agbeh had failed to refund money he borrowed or repay campaign-related costs.
“In October, before our election, I paid for his CROSIEC forms, and till date, Mr. Agbeh has refused to refund the funds. Even the funds he borrowed from me after our inauguration, he has refused to pay back.”
Despite his resignation from the APC, Yakubu made it clear that he still supports the state administration led by Governor Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu, praising his performance and vowing to deliver electoral support to him regardless of party affiliation.
“The Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu-led government has performed creditably well, and in whatever political party I find myself, I will work earnestly to ensure my ward is delivered in his favour,” he affirmed.