Akwa Ibom: PDP Handling of LG Elections will Guide APC's Handling of National Elections - Rt. Hon. Emah Bassey

-As hundreds defect from PDP to APC in Nsit Ibom
It was a carnival atmosphere on Saturday at the Primary School, Ikot Obok/Oboetok in
Asang Ward 5, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State when Elder
Godswill Inyang, a reputable one-man "votes gathering machine" decamped from the
PDP to APC with nearly one thousand of his supporters. 7
Elder Inyang revealed that his supporters were even more aggrieved at the turn of
events in PDP than himself, and were the ones who unanimously advised him to quit
their old party for the APC. He described the APC as the face of true hope for Akwa
Ibom people, majority of whom had been pauperized by the PDP.
On hand to receive the massive inflow into APC was the Rt Hon. (Barr.) Emah A.
Bassey, a former two-time member of the House of Representatives and the Deputy
Leader of APC Caucus in Nsit Ibom LGA.
In his speech, Elder Inyang said that by the event of yesterday, he had ceased to
operate among those " who always take what you sowed to those who did not sow."
The programme was delayed unavoidably for over four hours from 10 o' clock in the
morning the original kick-off time to some minutes past 2 PM due to a few other socio-
political commitments in the area on the same day. This occasioned the pre-event
departure of some dignitaries and even many decampees who equally were committed
at other events8 venues. One of such dignitaries was Chief Barr Joe Ukpong, a former
Commissioner for Environment in the State under Obong Victor Attah, who only returned
to the venue much, much later in the day with copious apology.
The Chapter Chairman of APC in Nsit Ibom, Elder Nkereuwem Okpok received the
decampees for onward presentation to the Deputy Caucus Leader. Elder Okpok thanked
Elder Inyang for heeding the wise counsel of his patriotic supporters to quit darkness
and embrace light. "You've taken a wise and great step today to quit darkness and
embrace light. Thanks for being a true democrat by hearkening to the voice of your
supporters."
Receiving Elder Inyang and his massive crowd into the APC, Hon Bassey assured them
of a strong platform for the fulfilment of both their individual aspirations and those of
their community. He admonished them to be good APC members in order for them to
progress in the party, adding that "politics is about the people, but more importantly, it
is about good, sincere and patriotic people."
On the fear by some members that the PDP-controlled Akwa Ibom State independent
Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) may not guaranty a level playing field in the
forthcoming Local Government Elections to all the political parties in the State, Hon
Bassey assured them that such would not happen as things had since changed in
Nigeria from what it used to be. " This is the era of change, PDP knows that how it
handles the forthcoming Local Government Elections in the State will certainly impact
on how APC will handle the 2019 national elections in the State." Adding that, "equity
will only come into play in 2019, if we all the parties come to it with clean hands in
2019."
The two-time member of the National Assembly revealed that the APC would strive to
sensitize reputable election observers both locally and internationally to every electoral
infraction of PDP in the coming local government elections "so that in 2019, the
observers will be in a position to decide whether they are dealing with genuine
democrats or they are only entertained by opportunistic hypocrites."
In his very brief remark, Barr Joe Ukpong welcomed the decampees and urged them to
be disciplined members of the party adding that on "day one of joining this party you
have the same right and privilege with the old members. That is the beauty of APC."
Some of the leaders present at the occasion include; the State Organizing secretary of
UBUNTU LIKEMINDS, a formidable State-wide socio-political group rooting for Obong
Nsima Ekere as governor in 2019, Prince Ekerendu Esitikott, Elder Monday Udoh and a
host of Chapter, ward officers and other party leaders across the State.