Senator Effiong’s Defection to APC Can’t Weaken Akwa Ibom PDP, Says Emmanuel

Okon Bassey in Uyo

Akwa Ibom State Governor Mr Udom Emmanuel has urged stakeholders and members of the party not to be jittery over the surprise defection of the Senator representing Eket Senatorial District, Senator Nelson Effiong from his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Party (APC).

Emmanuel, who consoled members of the party on the defection of Senator Effiong stressed that Effiong’s action cannot weaken PDP in Akwa Ibom State.

The Governor who reacted on Senator Effiong’s defection weekend at the Ibom International Airport shortly on arrival from Abuja argued that defection of one person cannot affect the strength of the party in the state.

According to him, the defection does not change PDP narrative in the state saying PDP, as a Party is like a religion with large fellowship across the state. Emmanuel advised PDP faithful not to be swayed by political persuasions assuring that his administration would not derail from its five – point agenda in which Political inclusion is paramount.

The Governor called on Nigerians to emulate civilised climes where people are identified with Party ideology irrespective of the party in power.

He noted with concern that cross carpeting has become prominent in the Nigerian political scene because people have refused to imbibe healthy political ideologies and culture but prefer to use Political Parties as platforms to gain political power.

“In developed democracies people are inclined to Party ideologies and platforms, Democrats or Republicans. Even in some African Countries, you hardly see people jumping from one Party to another for selfish
reasons.

“I see the development as cheap political blackmail where a person chooses to dent his Party which has brought him to limelight in order to gain acceptance in another Party”, Emmanuel stated.

The Governor congratulated his Ekiti State counterpart, Mr Ayodele Fayose, on his emergence as Chairman of the PDP Governor’s Forum saying that the smooth change of baton in the leadership of the party is a pointer to the harmony existing in the forum.

His words: “The emergence of Mr Ayodele Fayose as Chairman PDP Governor’s Forum was a unanimous decision of the PDP Governors which came on the heels of the expiration of the tenure of former Governor Olusegun Mimiko as Chairman of the forum.”

Emmanuel described Governor Fayose as a high ranking, vocal and highly committed Party member and expressed optimism that his tenure would record tremendous strides in the party.