JOE EFFIONG, UYO
Some politicians who hitherto defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to other political parties in Akwa Ibom State, have started rushing back to the party as the 2023 general elections draw near.
Daily Sun learned that the pilgrimage back to the PDP is a result of the gubernatorial candidate, Mr Umo Eno’s triumph at the federal high court Uyo, where he was dragged to defend his school certificate by one of the defeated gubernatorial aspirant of the party, Mr Akan Okon, even as other political parties appear to be a shambles arising from internal crises after their primaries.
Among those who recently led a handful of what was left of their hither supporters back to the PDP, are the former deputy state chairman of the party, Bishop Sam Akpan, the former factional speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Nse Ntuen and a former chairman of Uyo local government council, Mr Ekerete Ekpenyong.
Governor Udom Emmanuel, who received the defectors back to the PDP at Unity Park, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo. assured defectors, returnees and new entrants to the PDP of full integration and restoration of privileges, even as he told them that Akwa Ibom State and the entire South-south region would be better off with PDP, in power at the state and the centre
“I assure you, that there’s nothing like you’re just coming back, go and queue behind. No, not at all. We are giving you full restoration. “Everyone has their own space, nobody will take your space. You all have your own spaces”, the Governor said.
He however, cautioned them to guard their loyalty to the party, stressing that the PDP is the that would favour Akwa Ibom and the entire South-South, and described the support of the people for the PDP and what the party holds for them as a social contract, for which he could act as surety.
.the governor also described the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as detribalized Nigerian with whom the state and the region can be sure of getting their due.
“Atiku is the only one who will recognize the goose that lays the golden eggs. It is a social contract between the candidate and all of you and I am the surety of that social contract.”
The State Chairman of the PDP, Elder Aniekan Akpan, while welcoming the defectors on behalf of the State Working Committee of the party, re-echoed the assurances of their reintegration into the party as the family they rightly belong to.
According to Elder Akpan, the event, beyond the reception, was a unity rally as it marked the collapse of all political structures in the state into the PDP.
The gubernatorial candidate of the PDP, Pastor Umo Eno, thanked the returnees and defectors for coming to terms with the truth and good intentions of the party for the state and for seeing the need to join hands to work for the overall good of the state.
Speaking on behalf of the decampees from Uyo Senatorial District, Ekerette Ekpenyong, Ikot Ekpene senatorial district, Mr Nse Ntuen; and Eket Senatorial District, Bishop Samuel Akpan, respectively, thanked Governor Emmanuel for accepting them back into the PDP and pledged to put all efforts to achieve the aspirations of the party in the coming elections.