TVC N. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State suffered a devastating blow on Monday with the defection of some prominent leaders of the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Coming under the aegis of the Uyo Elders/Stakeholders Advisory Forum, the defectors included three former local government chairmen, Chief Clement Ekott, Mr. Aniekan Ubia and Mr. Fidelis Eddie, and a former State Surveyor-General, Surveyor Okokon Essien.
Receiving the defectors, the APC State Chairman, Dr. Amadu Attai, recalled that the APC started in Uyo and expressed gratitude to the people of the state capital for their steadfast support to the party over the years.
He declared that the APC was on an unstoppable march to the Government House in 2019.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Chief Ekott, who said he had been in politics since 1979, pledged their commitment to the success of the APC in Uyo. Also speaking, Mr. Eddie said with the calibre of the defectors, who he described as the finest crop of Uyo politicians, the APC was certain to win every election in the state capital.
A former Commissioner for Economic Development and APC leader in Uyo, Dr. Chris Ekong, commended the defectors for taking the bold step to join the moving train of change.
Tracing the political history of Uyo, he reasoned that the state capital with its nearly 200,000 votes was the deciding area in governorship elections in the state.
Others who spoke were Mkpisong Pius Okon and Obonganwan Victoria Eberefiak.
The event was attended by several prominent politicians including the APC Uyo Chapter Chairman, Mr. Gabriel Ikpe, the immediate past House of Assembly Member for Uyo, Mr. Edwin Joseph, and two former local government chairmen, Arc. Essien Nkanga and Otuekong Ekerete Ekpenyong.
