The battle for the soul of Akwa Ibom State has continued to gather momentum as about 10,000 members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) have defected to Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Eket, Esit Eket and Ibeno Local Government Areas of the State.
TheHILL learned that the defectors include, the former member who represented Eket in the State House of Assembly twice; Rt Hon Jack Udota, former Chapter and Ward Executive Members of PDP as well as leaders of youth and women groups in the three Local Government Areas.
LARGE CROWD OF YPP MEMBERS WELCOME PARTY HEAVYWEIGHTS TO EKET SECRETARIAT INAUGURATION
What could be described as the most intimidating mammoth crowd besieged Eket Local Government Area on September 1, 2022 as the Young Progressives Party (YPP) made a triumphal entry into the city to commission the party office of Eket Local Government Area.
Market women, businessmen, motorcycle operators, support groups, student bodies, party supporters, and many others wielding fresh leaves paraded the city to welcome the YPP entourage.
The people, angered by the near strangulation in social and economic lives, said they decide to support YPP because they have been abandoned by the current government.
One of the most prominent political leaders in the area, Rt. Hon. Jack Udoata, a former two-termed member of the House of Assembly and former PDP stalwart, who spoke on behalf of all decampees, said Eket has been abandoned for the past seven years.
“On behalf of all decampees, we sincerely thank you for accommodating us. Since the umbrella has broken and the broom can no longer sweep, we have decided to embrace the fresh leaves to breathe. Thank you, and may God bless you”, Udoata said.
He then thanked the YPP family for the new hope for all in Akwa Ibom people.
Similarly, the chapter chairman of YPP, Pastor Gospel Edoho, in his welcome speech thanked the state exco for purposeful leadership and the quality of candidates they have put forward for next year’s elections.
“Today is not for campaign. We will campaign when the time comes. Today, we only invited our fathers to come and commission our office for proper politics.
“We have over 5,000 decampees here, they have been subjugated, abandoned. They have not experienced good leadership for the past seven years. We are now ready to have good governance which will be possible through the YPP”, he added.
Other defectors who spoke included Itoro John, a former ward chairman of the PDP, who said: “we left PDP because of high handedness and witch-hunt. All of over 5,000 decampees of us will work tirelessly to bring a more friendly and focused government in place”.
“It is a thing of joy to see a former DPO who chased all the criminals from Eket coming today as the incoming Deputy Governor. I am equally glad that someone who once helped me when I had financial issues is coming as our incoming Governor today”, John added.
Mrs. Aniekan Joe Nsien, a former ward women leader, alsospoke for the women detectors, pouring encomiums on OBA for giving her food while the present government starved her.
“Today, my husband, my two children, myself and all my followers make this public declaration:We will make good use of our voter’s cards to vote OBA and the YPP”, Mrs. Nsien assured.
Apostle Nyeneime Andy, state chairman of the party, while performing the official commissioning of the party office admonished all to get their voter’s cards in order to make good choice in 2023.
“Today we didn’t come to campaign, we came as party to commission the party office and register all Eket people who are embracing the new direction. Non – indigenes came in their numbers and are willing to be part of us for a better Akwa Ibom. Get you PVC and be part of it”, Andy charged the crowd.
Chinedu Okafor, leader of non – indigenes resident in Eket Senatorial District, who led over 2,000 non-indigenes to grace the event told the crowd that the only candidates all non-indigenes will support will be OBA and other YPP candidates.
“You are a man of respect, we honour you so much. We see your antecedents and we have decided to pitch our tents with you. This is a coalition of all non – indigenes. You will have our full support”, Okafor told OBA.
Candidates of the party ranging from the guber candidate, OBA, his running mate, AIG Amba and wife, Chief (Mrs.) Janet Amba, Eket Senatorial candidate, Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-Eyen, House of Representatives candidate for Eket Federal Constituency, Joseph Mbong all greeted the mammoth crowd, urging them to continue their support for the party.
ESIT EKET ON LOCKDOWN, AS YPP INAUGURATES OFFICE
The entry of the state chairman of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Apostle Nyeneime Andy and other YPP stalwarts into Esit Eket was reminiscent of the biblical entry of Jesus Christ into the city of Jerusalem as the ancient city of Uquo suddenly became a beehive of activities.
Massive crowd locked the road leading to Uquo Plaza as individuals positioned themselves on the road, waving fresh leaves, to welcome the YPP delegation.
The official commissioning of the chapter office witnessed massive defection of former members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the fold of the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
The incumbent member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Usoro Akpanuso, in his goodwill message, told the audience that YPP is the only party that will give Akwa Ibom people a focused leadership.
“YPP is in charge. We will win all elections, I can assure you that all your sufferings will be over”, Akpanuso assured the gathering.
One of the decampees, the pioneer women leader of the PDP in Esit Eket, Mrs. Glory Obioffong, assured the YPP delegation that all women in the local government area will support the party since there is no other functional one in place.
Engr. Samuel Etim, chapter chairman of the YPP in Esit Eket, who is also the chairman of the Forum of YPP chairmen in Eket Senatorial District, earlier in his remarks thanked God for leading all safely to the event.
“I thank the state chairman who is God-sent, the Joshua of our time, who has come to open our office for political activity. Esit Eket is YPP, YPP is Esit Eket. We are for a better Akwa Ibom. Our Guber candidate is the only Senator representing the entire Akwa Ibom. We will forever support him. He deserves our support”, he said.
While inaugurating the party office, Andy told the gathering that their acceptance of YPP was evident in the way they abandoned their respective activities to grace the event as well as show their support.
“Don’t allow anyone to detect who governs you. You have your PVC, take the decision and don’t allow them do it for you”, Apostle Andy charged the crowd.
He later received over 3,000 decampees and charged them to be good ambassadors of YPP in the area, and handed over the party membership cards to the chapter chairman for further registration.
Enobong Harry, an immediate past state officer of the PDP, in his goodwill message said the office will enable them work for a better Akwa Ibom.
“The other party (PDP) does not have a single thing to campaign in Esit Eket. We will support OBA in the next year’s election. You came just to open this office, see the crowd that is here. Imagine what will happen when you come to campaign”, Harry added.
Apostle Jones Itauma who spoke on behalf of all the decampees regretted the wasted years in his former party, the PDP.
“I have been in PDP since I joined politics. I have never seen a party as ineffective and clueless as the PDP. We will work, knowing that our hardwork will pay”, Itauma said.
Princess God’sown Uduite who recently resigned as PDP chapter woman leader for Esit Eket, officially defected with others to the YPP. She said that all the structure of the PDP in Esit Eket has collapsed, and that only YPP will offer a good replacement.
“YPP is the only party in place. I abandoned the umbrella because it cannot cover me and my people in Esit Eket. The fresh leaves will be better for all of us”, Princess Uduite assured.
The event witnessed presentation of YPP crested scarfs to the state chairman of YPP and other dignitaries by the Esit Eket chapter chairman.
YPP INAUGURATES CHAPTER OFFICE IN IBENO LGA, RECEIVES 1,870 DECAMPEES
Chiefs, support groups, market women, student bodies, party loyalists and well-wishers have assured the Young Progressives Party of their loyalty, having withdrawn support for their former parties.
The people, who trooped to the venue of the party’s office inauguration in Ibeno, on September 1, 2022, lamented the hardship they have experienced in the hands of the current government.
However, Borniface Sunday, the chapter chairman described YPP as a breathe of fresh air, which Ibeno people are happy to experience.
“YPP will bring fresh and better leadership for everyone, irrespective of social class or status. I want to assure you that Ibeno is YPP and YPP is Ibeno. You can see that in this mammoth crowd that is here”, he maintained.
The state chairman, Apostle Nyeneime Andy, while commissioning the chapter office urged the crowd to maintain their faith in the party, assuring that it will bring forth a better leadership.
“Let me thank Ibeno people for coming out en masse to welcome us. The women especially are very wonderful. We did not come to campaign, but we have a very clear message for you. Go and get your PVC, register with the party and be part of the decision making the next crop of leaders”, Andy charged.
Speaking on behalf of the over 1,870 decampees, Mrs. Regina Nsobikpo, thanked God for making the day a great one as the people accepted the party and thanked the YPP family for accepting them into the fold.
“This great crowd shows that the people have embraced the YPP. I thank them so much. May God bless them and bless the state exco for accepting us into the YPP family”, Mrs. Nsobikpo appreciated.
Chief Anthony Effiong in his goodwill message said he joined the YPP to support Senator Bassey Albert who he believed will offer quality leadership in the state.
OBA, the gubernatorial candidate of the party, later thanked the Ibeno people and urged them to take their destinies in their hands.
