On Friday, March 22, 2024, a total of 37,874 individuals from opposition parties in Akwa Ibom State officially joined the state’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. These defectors encompassed members from various political entities including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Young Progressives Party (YPP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), among others.
Representing the defectors, former state secretary of the APC, Nkereuwem Enyong Ekere, and Emmanuel Uko Etteh of the YPP expressed their commitment to merging their organizational structures and supporting the PDP.
Welcoming the defectors at the PDP Secretariat in Atan Offot, Uyo, Governor Umo Eno urged them to refrain from disrespecting and attacking leaders, particularly those at the national level. He emphasized the importance of upholding humility, compassion, and respect for constituted authorities, emphasizing that the PDP he leads advocates for such values.
Governor Eno underscored the necessity of fostering an environment of peace, love, and unity for growth and progress to thrive. He encouraged the defectors to integrate their previous structures into the PDP framework to demonstrate sincerity and determination.
Assuring the returnees of equal opportunities within the party and the state, Governor Eno emphasized the inclusivity of the PDP and its capacity to accommodate individuals from all walks of life.
In his welcoming speech, the state PDP chairman, Aniekan Akpan, hailed the reception rally as a significant event, likening it to the monumental rally witnessed in December 2022. He pledged full reintegration of the returnees into the PDP family and affirmed their roles as former leaders within the party.
Akpan assured cooperation and unity among party members to foster the growth of the PDP in the state, noting the returnees’ expression of confidence in Governor Umo Eno’s administration, which had achieved notable milestones within nine months.
He mentioned that comprehensive data had been compiled to substantiate the figures presented, detailing the origin of the returnees from various units, wards, and local government areas.
Explaining the collaboration with the governor’s political adviser, Prince Godwin Ntukude, Akpan highlighted that over 37,000 individuals from other political affiliations had indicated their willingness to rejoin the PDP.