Over 500 PDP Officers in Akwa Ibom State defect to YPP

In Akwa Ibom State, five hundred and eighty chapter and ward officers of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have defected to the Young Progressives Party, YPP.

The State Chairman of defection and an inter-party committee of YPP Barr. Usenobong Akpabio disclosed the number of officers who defected to YPP from the PDP to newsmen yesterday.

Senator Akpan, currently representing the Uyo Senatorial district and leader of the Akwa Ibom caucus in the National Assembly, recently emerged as the governorship candidate of the YPP in a re-conducted governorship primary election of the party.

Reports confirm that with this emergence, a massive defection of PDP Officers came about.

Akpabio, the Akwa Ibom NorthEast senatorial candidate of the party, also coordinates the committee saddled with the responsibility of receiving and documenting persons defecting from other political parties to the YPP.

His words: “As at the day Obong Bassey Akpan declared publicly for the governorship in YPP, we wanted to showcase them (defectors), but there was no opportunity to do it. As of that day, I had counted 580 officers.

“The defection is ongoing. A lot of officers are leaving the PDP. Like on Monday, August 15, two officers and a women leader from Onna left the PDP and joined us.

“I have their records I have their resignation letters. They have formally enrolled in the YPP as members. Membership registration is ongoing. Officers of the PDP are defecting from all the local government areas across the state, but in Ibiono Ibom, the defection is massive.

“Ibiono Ibom LGA has the largest number of officers of PDP defecting to the YPP., from the chapter chairman to the ward chairmen, to other officers.

“We also have a large turnover in Uyo, Ikono, Ini, Esit Eket, Itu, Eastern Obolo, and Ibeno. There is no local government, grassroots that is spared.”

Barr. Akpabio described the YPP as the fastest growing party in the state, stressing, I don’t know how else one would say that there is a grassroots appeal.

I can tell you that as far as the grassroots are concerned, YPP is there. Chapter and ward officers of the PDP started leaving the party in dozens early last month.

“Aside from the party officers, a member of the House of Representatives, representing Ikono/Ini, Hon. Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo, and two Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly members, Mr. Usoro Akpanusoh and Mr. Nana Udo, representing Edit Eket/Ibeno and Ikono state constituencies, respectively have also defected to the YPP.

“Former Commissioner for Works who later served as Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr. Ephraim Inyang, and the immediate past Commissioner for Labour and Manpower Planning, Mr. Sunny Ibuot, resigned from the state executive council in March has joined the YPP.

“Two special assistants to the governor resigned their appointment in June to join the YPP. However, the PDP has filled replacement for the defected officers.”

VANG/S.O