With less than 48 hours to the general election holding on Saturday, more defection has continued to hit the APC camp in Akwa Ibom State. The latest is the decision by members of Buhari Support Group, Akwa Ibom State Chapter to support the reelection bid of Governor Udom Emmanuel and the Presidential candidate of PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the victory of all candidates of the PDP.
Addressing a press conference which was also witnessed by the Director General of Divine Mandate Campaign Council, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, the State Cordinator of the group, Mr. Effiong Bassey Attah who regretted what he described as the woeful performance of the Buhari led administration in the past three and a half years, said his members have discovered that the APC has no good plan for the people of Akwa Ibom State in particular and Nigeria.
“We have found out that APC both at the federal and state level has no solid plan to protect the poor masses in Akwa Ibom. Our study has shown that APC is not an organized party capable of leading Akwa Ibom people to their dedtiny”.
” After several consultation with our ward, unit Cordinators and entire members in Akwa Ibom, and having seen the good works of His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel, especially his industrialization agenda, we have agreed that there is no need for us to continue with the APC again in Akwa Ibom State.
Before now, Akwa Ibom State was a civil state, but within three years, Governor Udom Emmanuel has changed the narrative. We have come to support him complete 8 years to enable him continue with his industrialization and completion agenda”.
The Buhari Support Group Cordinator who was flanked by local government Chapter and Ward officials of the group, announced that the group with over 86,000 membership spread across the state is ready to work with the PDP to actualise victory for Governor Udom Emmanuel and all candidates of the party in the February 16 and March 2 elections.
Also Speaking, the South-South Coordinator of Buhari Support Group, and Herald for Buhari 2019, Engr. Gabriel Abijah said his people have seen reasons to join hands with Governor Udom Emmanuel for the development of the state, and cannot afford to waste their votes for a party that has performed woefully at the centre in the past three and half years.
Describing the APC Governorship candidate, Mr. Nsima Ekere as a failure who wasted the opportunity he would have used in the NDDC for the benefit of Akwa Ibom, Engr. Abijah said their decision to dump the APC was in the best interest of the state and its future.
“My people have seen reasons to join hands with Governor Udom Emmanuel for the development of Akwa Ibom. From experience, we have performed woefully in the NDDC. The man who is now flying the flag of the NDDC was the MD of the commission, controlling nine states, but he did nothing for the state.
They diverted the resources of the good people of the Niger-Delta to their private use. We are returning all our votes across the 31 local government area for Governor Udom Emmanuel, Atiku Abubakar and all PDP candidates”.
“If anybody tells you that APC would win in Akwa Ibom, its a lie. The party does not have ward not have executives in Akwa Ibom. It is a party of thieves, criminals, kidnappers and assassins”.
The first kidnapping in Akwa Ibom which was the kidnap of a white man, STEMCO Staff in Ikot Ekpene was masterminded by a man who is a so called APC Chieftain today. They can never be trusted with power, and we can’t support such a party any longer”
Receiving the detectors, the DG of Divine Mandate, and former Military Governor of the state, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga thanked members of the Buhari Support Group for the bold step they have taken, saying it was a right decision for the overall interest of the state. Describing the broom party as a dead party which is awaiting its funeral on Saturday, the former Governor assured that the PDP government will accommodate all.
“The action you have taken today is a big gain for democracy. We practice full democracy here.PDP belongs all, it does not belong to one single individual unlike what obtains in the other party.You have taken the right decision. Your children will grow with self dignity”
Nkanga urged the defecting APC members to return to their local government areas, wards and unit and mobilize votes for the PDP. He took time to brief them on the development efforts of Governor Udom Emmanuel and the manifesto of the Presidential candidate of PDP, Atiku Abubakar.
Other members of the Divine Mandate Campaign Council present during press briefing include, the Director of Public Communications, Otuekong Emmanuel Ibiok and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr. Essien Ndueso and others.
