APC members defect to PDP in ITU * Mobilize support for Udom

Immediate-past Commissioner for Finance, Akwa Ibom State; Mr Akan Okon, has asked returning members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) who left the party to different opposition parties, to submit to party hierarchy and shun acts of indiscipline within the PDP but join hands to build a strong and virile party. 

Mr Okon, gave the advice on Friday, at Government Primary School, Ayadehe, Itu Local Government Area, while receiving into the party, over twenty decampees from Ayadehe Ward 2 in Itu. 

The elated former Finance boss, who said that the event marked the end of “opposition party” in the area, charged the returnees to abide by the party’s constitution and regulations to move the PDP forward.

Mr Akan Okon who used the occasion to eulogize the virtues of the State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, emphasized that since assumption of office May last year, the governor’s visionary, exemplary and transformational leadership has taken Akwa Ibom State to an all-time high level.

He said the governor has been able to use the lean resources accruing to the state to embark on both human and infrastructural development and assured Mr Udom Emmanuel of the support of his people at all times. 

While urging youths in the area to continue to give maximum support to the Udom Emmanuel led administration, Mr Okon, advised politicians in the State to guide their utterances and utter words that build rather than provoke sentiments that could threaten the peace prevalent in Akwa Ibom.

In their separate remarks, the PDP Chapter Chairman, Itu, Mr Victor Okon Nyong and the party’s Ward 2 chairman in the area; Mr Christopher Paul Obot, maintained that the returning members were no strangers and promised to integrate them fully, so that they would contribute to PDP’s success. 

Leader of the group of returnees and heavyweight politician in Itu, Mr Essien Eniang, in a remark, specifically thanked the immediate past Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akan Okon, who he said has worked tirelessly as a loyal party man to unite the people of Itu under the Governor Udom Emmanuel leadership and the PDP umbrella. 

He said that the decampees could no longer afford to play opposition politics, considering the performance of Governor Udom Emmanuel in sectors like education, health and infrastructural development.

Mr Eniang, alongside other returnees, however, promised to support Governor Emmanuel and work for his re-election come 2019.