PDP loses 450 members in Akwa Ibom State

Over 450 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Udung Uko Local Council Area of Akwa Ibom State have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

They announced their defection yesterday at the APC Campaign Office along Four Lanes in Uyo, the state capital.

The defecting PDP members were led by its youth leader in Udung Uko local council, Mr. Obiosio, and accompanied by Peter Effanga, Sam Effiong and two other members of the chapter.

Also included was the proprietor of St. Dominic Comprehensive College, a popular school in Oron Local Council Area, Ulap Nyong Edumoh.

Obiosio declared that with their coming to the APC, the party would win all the elections in the area.

He explained that Udung Uko is one of the five local government areas in Oron Nation, and the third largest ethnic group in Akwa Ibom State.

Edumoh added that they were moved to join the APC because of the impact of the APC governorship candidate, Obong Nsima Ekere, in Oron.

He cited the roads he constructed as Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

APC Deputy Governorship candidate, Dr. Amadu Attai, who represented Ekere, said the defectors had insisted on rescheduling the event to coincide with the campaign visit to Udung Uko.

Attai, who said he was familiar with Udung Uko politics, having spent almost all his life in Oron, described APC as the only party that is close to the grassroots.
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“We are taking over Akwa Ibom State, come rain come shine,” he declared.

Receiving the defectors on behalf of the state APC Chairman, Dr. Ita Udosen, the deputy chairman, commended them for seeing the light, and assured them of proper integration into the party, as well as equal opportunities with the old members.

The APC House of Representatives’ candidate for Oron Federal Constituency, Prince Victor Antai, hailed the defectors for following him into the party, which he said was heading for victory in the elections.

“The major players who make things happen are now in the APC. They were the kingmakers in APC, and anybody that tells you that there are no kingmakers in any society is deceiving you,” he said.

He assured them that they were in the right party, because the kingmakers had decided that Ekere would be the next governor of Akwa Ibom State.

Leader of APC in Etim Ekpo Local Council Area, Uduak Okpo, also expressed confidence in the capacity of the APC to take over everywhere in the state.