The
ongoing depletion suffered by the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the Peoples
Democratic Party(PDP) continued yesterday as several of its members in Udung
Uko Local Government Area joined the All Progressives Congress(APC) in a
colourful and well attended event.
Speaking
at the event, the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Dr
Amadu Attai said with the number and calibre of politicians who daily join the
Party, the APC would effortlessly win any election in Akwa Ibom State. He noted
that it was obvious that Akwa Ibom people were tired of the deceit and failure
of the PDP, hence their voluntary mass defection from the Party.
In
his goodwill message delivered through Chief Okon Osung, the Managing Director
of the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC), Obong Nsima Ekere commended
Udung Uko people for identifying with the APC. He also thanked them for
nominating Mr Iniobong Edmond as their Chairmanship flagbearer for the
forthcoming Local Government Election.
He
described Mr Edmond as a dedicated Party man and recalled how the latter lost
his position as Secretary, Udung Uko Local Government Council in 2014 for
joining the APC. He further reminded the mammoth crowd of how their
Chairmanship Candidate was hounded out of Akwa Ibom State for three months
because of his support for the Party during the 2015 General Election.
In
his speech, frontline politician and Elder Statesman, Chief Okon Osung
dismissed the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) as a non viable electoral platform.
"PDP is no longer an electoral platform in Nigeria. Why are some of our
people deceiving themselves?" He queried.
He
said as one of the founding fathers of the Party, he had to leave when he
realized the Party was deliberately anti Oro.
While
presenting the defectors to the State Chairman, the Eket Senatorial District
Chairman of the Party, Elder Emmanuel Oton hailed the unity which exists in the
Party in Oro Nation. He expressed optimism that God would use APC to turn
things around in Udung Uko Local Government Area and Akwa Ibom State.
The
Chairmanship Candidate of the Party in the area, Mr Iniobong Edmond assured the
defectors that they will be integrated into the mainstream of the Party. He
said as a politician who enjoys tremendous support across political parties in
the area, he was confident of a resounding victory at the polls.
In
his remarks, the Chairmanship Running Mate, Mr Joseph Edet Efiong said his
combination with Mr Edmond will deliver victory to the Party.
Speaking
on behalf of the defectors, former Chairmanship aspirant in the Peoples Democratic
Party(PDP), Hon. Daniel Efiong Asuquo assured of their preparedness to work for
the APC at all levels of election.
Hon.
Asuquo who is also a former Councillor said he was convinced APC would take
over Akwa Ibom State.
Monitoring
the event from his Abuja base, the National President of Onwi Nsima Ekere(ONE),
Chief Windy Isong regretted his inability to attend the
event. He congratulated the defectors on their decision to join the APC and
assured that as the Party takes over the state in 2019, their welfare would be
prioritized.
He
opined that a cursory look at the membership of the two leading political
parties in Oro Nation would readily reveal APC as the Party in firm control of
the area.
In
his vote of thanks, Mr Victor Abia described political parties as vehicles
through which political power is acquired. He thanked members of the Party for
their commitment and urged them not to rest on their oars until the Party wins
all future elections in the area.
The
highpoint of the event was the formal admission of several defectors into the
Party and the inauguration of the Local Government Election Campaign Committee
chaired by veteran politician, Hon(Prince) Victor Atti Okpo.
Others
who witnessed the event were the State Publicity Secretary of the Party, Barr
Edet Eyo Bassey, Treasurer, Mr Onwiefiak, Dr Asuquo Anwana,Prince John Anwana Ikott,
Hon. Emmanuel Inwang,
Mr Nse Okponung, Mr Ini Essang, Hon. Effiong Asanwana,
Mr Bassey Edunam, Hon. Prince Victor Atti Okpo, Hon. Okon Bassey, Hon. Nuke
Nuke, Dr. Bassey Willie, MrSamuel Duncan,
APC Chairmanship Candidate for Urueoffong/Oruko Local Government Area, Mr
Efiong Essi and his Councillorship candidates, APC Chairmanship Candidate for
Okobo, Hon. Edu Edu Attah and his councillorship candidates,
among many others
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