Crises in the camp of APC chieftain and managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Mr Nsima Ekere has deepened following the sudden defection of former governor candidate of the Accord Party Bishop Sam Akpan to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Akpan who hails from Onna local government, is from the same senatorial district as Nsima Ekere and is believed to have scuttled the attempt by the NDDC czar to use zoning to grab the APC 2019 governorship ticket at the expense of strongman, Sen John Akpan Udoedehe.
Mr Ekere recently convened a meeting in his Ewet Housing palatial home where he was alleged to have lured few elders with N2million, to hurriedly announce the zoning of the 2019 governorship position to Eket senatorial district.
This decision was strongly antagonized by Senators Ita Enang and Udoedehe who both allegedly have interest to also contest for the seat, and they were said to have argued that zoning was not recognized by the party’s constitution.
Howevr the late arrival of the Samuel Akpan, has further pitched the former deputy governor in a precarious situation, as his chances of clinging the ticket of the APC has been further watered by Akpan who is seen as a more grassroots oriented politician with more sympathy than Ekere.
At the party secretariat on Atiku Abubakar, the former governorship aspirant of the Accord Party, Bishop Samuel Akpan, who defected from AP to APC declared his intention to run for 2019 elections as governor.
The former accord strong man who turned 60 used the defection ceremony to mark his birthday saying that he feels fulfilled and satisfied with his decision to switch parties, as such a move came at the “fullness of time.”
He also proposed that his defection will unite the party that has been torn to shreds in the recent times. “By my presence today, that time that you walk alone has gone and this party cannot walk alone.
We have to work together, live together, and stay together, that is the message of this party, and that’s the message of this gathering.”
He assured that, “this party is in the best mood, in the strength of time to take over the government of Akwa Ibom state and liberate Akwa Ibom from poverty.
This party in principle in spirit is waiting for swearing-in.” “I have to surrender myself after these many years of life that I want to be of service.”
Receiving Bishop Sam Akpan, the chairman of the APC in the state, Mr Amadu Attai expressed happiness for the move made by Bishop Sam Akpan and was optimistic that with the crop of his supporters, Bishop Sam will reposition the party in the state.
This move comes three days after a socio-political group called Door to Door super 100 for ONE had asked the MD of NDDC, Nsima Ekere to contest for the office of the state governor under the APC.
The absence of names like Nsima Ekere and Sen John Udoedeghe from the event was not unnoticed, while Nelson Effiong who earlier this year defected to the APC, is yet to be received by the APC even as he is counted among those nursing a gubernatorial ambition in 2019.
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