‘Over 20,000’ APC members in Akwa Ibom defect to PDP

Mass defection has hit the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom state as “over 20,000” of its members have reportedly defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The defectors were led by the chapter and ward chairmen from 16 local government areas of the state.

Joseph Ama and other former APC chapter chairmen who spoke separately during the event at the Ibom hall ground, Uyo, said they decided to dump the APC because they were threatened by the memories of the insecurity, kidnapping, politically motivated killings and other social vices which characterised the political land space of Akwa-Ibom during a former state governor’s reign.

Handing over the decamped to Udom Emmanuel, governor of the state, Ama, who noted that the number of decamped, were the APC support base built up since 2008 and inherited from the days of the ACN, said the people of Uyo senatorial district would not allow themselves to be fooled by anyone who may desire to pocket the entire state.

“We quit the APC today because we are children of peace. We were very comfortable in the party and suddenly three killers who didn’t allow Akwa Ibom to exist peacefully some time ago defected to the APC and started their kidnapping again,” Ama said.

Similarly, the chapter chairman of APC in Itu local government area of the state, Sunday Uyire, said, “It is practically impossible for me and my exco members to remain in the same party with those who in 2011, plotted to kill us.”