PDP panics as Umana storms Uyo tomorrow * Eseme Eyibo, Ignatius Edet, Mac Joe ors join APC revolution

UOU

BY KENNETH JUDE

The Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, Obong Umana Okon Umana is set to storm the state tomorrow in what is expected to serve as a platform for the Nsit Ubium born politician to address and regroup his supporters ahead of a rerun election in the state.
Umana who is visiting the state for the first time since his victorious outing at the Court of Appeal is also billed to receive hundreds of defectors into the APC fold apparently in preparation for a fresh governorship election in the state. THE INK understands that the return of UOU to the state is meant to prepare the minds of the teeming supporters of the party ahead of the expected rerun in the state. During the visit, Umana is expected to interface with stakeholders of the party in the state with a bid to devising strategies of claiming victory in the rerun if the Supreme Court affirms the position of the appellate court.
A major tsunami will hit the Peoples Democratic Party on Friday if reports reaching our political desk are anything to go by. Former House of Representatives member representing Eket Federal constituency, Hon Eseme Eyibo; former Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ignatius Edet; former Chairman of Ibesikpo Local Government Area, Apostle Ekpe James; former G22 member, Larry Esin; former Council Chairman of Itu Local Government Area; Mac Joe; former Council Chairman of Uyo Local Government Area, Mr. Ekerette Ekpenyong, more than ten thousand of their supporters and a host of other PDP bigwigs in the state are to be formally received into the All Progressives Congress (APC). This move, political observers maintain will spell doom for Governor Udom Emmanuel and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
A member of the PDP in the state, who gave his opinion on the defection of Hon. Eseme Eyibo to the APC, maintained that is a huge blow to PDP in light of the rerun that is in the offing. “I don’t know why Hon. Eyiboh has chosen to join forces with strangers to fight against our son, Governor Udom. It is unbelievable that he is toeing this path, years after enjoying the mandate and support from the PDP. Whatever reasons he has to dump the party that he was a stakeholder in, the fact is that his defection is a massive loss to us, the PDP and Governor Udom Emmanuel.’’
An APC supporter who spoke with our reporter noted that the rally on Friday will shake the political structure of the state to its foundations, adding that Umana Okon Umana is the anointed Governor of Akwa Ibom State. “PDP is afraid of Umana. You can see how panicky they are. Remember the massive crowd that turned up to receive our Governor in waiting, Obong Umana Okon Umana after he stormed the state following the tribunal verdict. Today, every well meaning Akwa Ibomite is a member of the APC because change has finally come to the state. Tomorrow’s rally will be grand and thousands of PDP members will be received into the party, so you now understand what I am talking about. Umana is the next Governor of Akwa Ibom State and nothing can stop him. He was the first person that was anointed by Senator Akpabio to be the Governor so he is coming to take what belongs to him.’’
Checks by THE INK revealed that there is unease in government quarters over the visit of Umana Okon Umana tomorrow and the wave of defections that has continued to hit the PDP. A government house source who spoke on the condition of anonymity observed that Governor Udom Emmanuel and other top players of the PDP are jittery over Umana’s visit. He noted that his earlier visit after the tribunal was shocking enough. The source observed that the news of Umana’s visit to the state was received with mixed feelings in government house. He noted that what everyone needs to do at a point like this is to pray for Governor Udom Emmanuel and the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
Meanwhile, Umana’s return, tagged “triumphant entry’’ will commence from the airport and terminate at Obong Nsima Ekere’s campaign ground at Edet Akpan Avenue (Four Lane), Uyo. The event will also feature a prayer session for Obong Umana Okon Umana and the All Progressives Congress. UOU is expected to address his teeming supporters on the way forward after his historic victory at the Appeal Court.