OVER THREE THOUSAND PDP MEMBERS SWITCH TO YPP IN IBESIKPO ASUTAN LGA, SAYS NO HOPE IN PDP

The Nnung Udoe Highway in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area came to a stand still on 26th September, 2022 when the leaders of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) arrived the area to inaugurate the chapter office of the party. 

The state chairman of the YPP, Apostle Nyeneime Andy, while speaking said such massive turn out was evident that Ibesikpo people have  all joined YPP.

"What I've just seen today is that Ibesikpo is YPP. YPP is taking over Akwa Ibom State. We are not here to campaign, but to inaugurate the party office here. We will let you know our programmes and plans when campaigns begin".

Apostle Andy condemned a situation where the state government refused to invite a sitting two-term senator to the state creation anniversary.

"Celebrating our anniversary without inviting Senator Bassey Albert, who they referred to as the only Senator from Akwa Ibom is, totally condemnable", he said.

The state chairman,  while inaugurating the party office in Ibesikpo, announced that "more than 3,000 people have moved from other parties to join YPP, the fastest growing party in the country". 

A former local government chairman, Hon. Etetim Ubong,  who spoke on behalf of all decampees, said his movement to YPP was occasioned by the freshness in the party.

"I moved with all stakeholders in Ibesikpo to join the YPP. I was deputy leader to Uwem Ita Etuk. Moving from the PDP means there is no PDP anymore in Ibesikpo".

Speaking on behalf of the women, Hon. Mary Ikpoto said "It is OBA that we want. OBA isn't aspiring to be Governor for his own benefit, but for all of us. God has confused even the enemy, that is why yesterday, when they were asked 'who will be your Governor', they  responded ‘OBA’".

While the Village Head of Nnung Udoe, Eteidung Bassey Joseph, expressed appreciation to God for someone like OBA whose aspiration is to rescue Akwa Ibom State, the chapter chairman, Comrade Joseph Peter, said the only party in Ibesikpo and the Uyo Senatorial District is the YPP, and that  "the candidates are only awaiting swearing-in".

Elder Okon Okon, coordinator of Akwa Ubok Abasi Campaign organization in Ibesikpo, in his goodwill message, said the people of Ibesikpo have agreed to embrace a fresh life, hence they came out in numbers to witness the official inauguration of the party office.

MORE TROUBLE FOR PDP AS UDOTA, FORMER LEGISLATOR, PDP WARD EXECUTIVES, OVER 5000 OTHERS DEFECT TO YPP

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 decades 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.