The former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Emmanuel Uko Ette and state secretary of All Progressive Congress party (APC) in Akwa Ibom state, Hon Nkereuwem Enyongekere were among the 37,874 members from different opposition political parties who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom state.
Ukoette represented Ukanafun/OrukAnam federal constituency in the House of Representatives between 2011 – 2019 but later joined APC as serving lawmaker before joined YPP during 2023 general election while Enyongekere served as APC as the secretary.
Others who defected to PDP were former members of All Progressives Congress (APC), Young Progressive Party (YPP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Receiving the defectors at Ibom Hall ground along IBB way in Uyo on Friday, the leader of PDP and governor of the state Pastor Umo Eno cautioned the defectors against disrespect to leaders, especially at the center.
“We welcome you sincerely into the party, PDP is not a party that insults leaders, as you come back one of the things I want you to drop is attack on leaders. For example the President of the country, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We have to show him optimum respect and support.
“The PDP I run don’t attack leaders, we have to support leaders and not fight them because as a pastor, I am trained to respect people. We must show the character of humility, compassion and respect to Constituted Authorities. That we will continue to do as a party”
Eno emphasized that the state can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace, love and unity and urged them to collapse all structures in their possession to the PDP structure to show sincerity of purpose and seriousness.
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He promised the returnees equal opportunities to serve in the party and the state adding that the PDP umbrella is large enough to accommodate everybody in the state.
“If we truly love our state, if we truly love the people, let us realize that we have no other than Akwa Ibom and we need to work together as a people irrespective of ethnic affection.
“Thank you for coming to this realization, we receive you today because we are one, we come from one stock, and thank you for understanding that it is only in the atmosphere of peace and unity that there can be progress. We have accepted you wholeheartedly, without segregation. We have spoken to the leadership of all the units, wards and local government areas to receive and work with you for the growth of the PDP”. He maintained.
The state Chairman of PDP Hon. Aniekan Akpan while receiving the defectors described the reception rally as the mother of all rallies in the state.
Akpan assured the new defectors of full reintegration into the PDP family and presented them to Governor Eno as their action amount to expression of confidence in his achievements in the last nine months .
“On the orders of the Governor, we collated the data of all those that wanted to defect to the PDP from other parties.
“Following what we did jointly with the political Adviser to the governor, Prince Godwin Ntukude Ph.D, we have a record of over 37,000 members of other political parties who indicated interest to return to the PDP today”.
Speaking on behalf of other defectors and leaders of other parties, Hon. Emmanuel Uko Ette expressed their sincere readiness to collapse all their structures and work for the PDP.
He expressed gratitude to Eno for the huge investment in Agriculture and other life touching projects within just nine months in office.
