Former Interim National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator John James Udoedehe, has defected and grabbed the governorship ticket of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Akwa Ibom State.
Udoedehe, a founding member of APC, had failed in his bid to secure the APC’s gubernatorial ticket which was said to have been won by Akan Udofia, who had earlier bought the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship nomination form and reportedly scored two votes.
n a statement addressed to the ward chairman of the party in Uyo Local Government Udoedehe said his defection was a tough and painful decision.
The Trumpet gathered that Udoedehe’s decision to resign may have come after his faction of the party failed to be recognized by the national secretariat of the APC. Instead, it was a rival faction of the party that was given recognition following a ruling by a Federal High Court.
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The letter read in part that: “Henceforth, I cease to be a member of APC in my ward or anywhere for that matter. I hereby relinquish all rights which inured to me as a member of the APC, member of the national advisory council and member of the national caucus of the APC.
“This decision to part ways with the APC is a tough one, but leadership entails adherence to the wishes of the vast majority of associates, allies and supporters who have shown fidelity over time and have now witnessed the obduracy of the APC in handling the candidate selection processes in Akwa Ibom State.
“Our greater goal of providing service to the people of our dear state remains sacrosanct,” the letter stated. It was also learnt that Udoedehe had secured the governorship ticket of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) at the party primary election held the day he defected from APC.
