Over 500 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ward 4 in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The defectors led by former APC party stalwarts in the ward, Akparawa Sylvanus Damien Mendie and Elder Ufot Akwa, former APC Unit Coordinator, Mr Uduak Silas Usanga and Mrs Victoria Silas, former APC Ward Secretary said they were deceived and lured into their former party.
Mr Itoro Damien, a former Ward 4 APC stalwart disclosed that he single-handedly funded administrative activities of the APC in the area due to lack of funds in the party and regretted their actions and pledged their unflinching support and loyalty to the PDP. Damien spoke glowingly of the achievements of the PDP-led government in Akwa Ibom State.
He harped on the democratic deliverables of Governor Udom Emmanuel to the people of Akwa Ibom State and described the State Chief Executive as a good product of the PDP who remains committed to delivering on his campaign promises, urging the party faithful to vote massively for the Governor to succeed himself in 2019 to continue with the good work he has started in the state.
The member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Ime Okon, whose Ward the defection occurred said the movement was the beginning of the death of the APC and pledged to support the new members and solicited for their loyalty to the PDP.
Receiving the defectors on behalf of the party, the PDP Ward 4 Chairman, Mr Michael Akpan applauded them for their courage to move from darkness (All Progressives Congress) to light (Peoples Democratic Party).
He expressed his dissatisfaction with the current nose-diving of the nation’s economy which he attributed to the poor leadership of the APC-led Federal Government and maintained that the Peoples Democratic Party remains the only party that will salvage Nigeria from its pitiable State.
Also Speaking, the Ibiono Ibom PDP Chapter Chairman, Hon Emmanuel Etim said he was happy that the defectors have realized that the APC is synonymous with suffering and bad luck, arguing that they deceived and lured them into their ever sinking party.
Highpoint of the defection ceremony was the burning of APC membership cards and brooms by the defectors followed by their registration and subsequent issuance of PDP membership cards to the new members.
