The All Progressives Congress Media Network has thrown its full weight behind Governor Umo Eno’s declaration that only registered party members will be eligible for political appointments in Akwa Ibom State.
In a press statement issued on Saturday, the party’s media arm described the governor’s stance as “a necessary step toward protecting the party and ensuring focused, effective governance.”
The statement, signed by the Director General of the APC Media Network, Otuekong Iniobong John, said the move would “promote honesty, loyalty, and clarity in the political process.”
“The APC Media Network fully supports the clear and principled stance taken by His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, that political appointments in an APC-led government should be reserved strictly for registered and committed members of the All Progressives Congress,” the statement read.
It noted that Governor Eno, as leader of the APC in the state, has the authority and responsibility to “protect the integrity, discipline, and internal cohesion of the party.”
The statement argued that appointments are “positions of trust” that should only go to “individuals who believe in the party, share its values, and are prepared to advance its vision of governance.”
According to the media network, it is “unreasonable for individuals who do not believe in the APC, refuse to belong to it, or deliberately distance themselves from it, to later seek appointments in a government formed by the party.”
“One cannot reject a political platform and still expect to benefit from its electoral success,” the statement added.
It also addressed what it called a longstanding grievance among loyal party members, who have often watched non-members secure appointments after elections despite not contributing to the party’s success.
“For too long, loyal party members have endured a frustrating pattern in which they worked tirelessly, invested resources, risked their reputations, and stood firm through difficult times to secure victory, only for non-members to surface after elections and assume key positions in government,” the statement said.
The APC Media Network emphasized that the policy is “neither unfair nor exclusionary,” but rather reinforces the principle that “commitment truly matters.”
It commended Governor Eno for “strengthening party unity, boosting the morale of party faithful, and reinforcing the principle that commitment truly matters.”
Political observers say the public endorsement from the party’s official media organ signals strong internal backing for the governor’s move, which is expected to reshape appointment patterns and consolidate APC control over the state’s political machinery.
