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Tony John, Port Harcourt
The Rivers State deputy governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Akpo Bomba Yeeh, has withdrawn from the governorship election and defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Addressing journalists at his home, in Port Harcourt, Yeeh said he decided to join hands with the PDP governorship candidate, Nyesom Wike, to move the state forward.
He said: “After due consultations with my immediate family, friends and supporters, I, Akpo Bomba Yeeh, the deputy governorship candidate of the AAC, for the 2019 election, hereby, resign my membership of the AAC and announce my defection to the PDP, to join hands with Governor Wike to move the state forward.
“I was deputy governorship candidate of the AAC in Rivers State up till today, March 25, 2019, when I decided to withdraw my candidature and resign from the party, with immediate effect.
“The March 9 governorship election in Rivers State has been lost and won; lost by my party, AAC and its candidate, Biokpomabo Awara, and, undoubtedly, overwhelmingly won by Wike.”
He said despite the interference of the security agencies, Rivers people stood their ground and voted for governor Wike.
“The collated results further showed that contrary to the false claim of lead by the AAC/All Progressives Congress (APC) alliance, the PDP overwhelmingly won the election in 18 out of the 19 local government areas, culminating in the declaration and return of the party in 26 House of Assembly constituencies by the returning officers.
“This fact was confirmed on March 13, 2019, when National Electoral Commission said it had, in its custody, collated results from 17 local government areas as well as the declaration of the PDP candidates for 21 state constituencies.
Reacting to the AAC deputy governorship candidate’s allegations, a chieftain of the APC and a member of Amaechi’s faction, Tonye Princewill, said Yeeh could not resist the “allure of big money. They are not the first to succumb and they will not be the last.”
Yeeh said he has informed Awara, in writing, of his withdrawal and resignation from the governorship race and the AAC.
Also, the Director General of Tonye Cole Campaign Organisation, Chidi Lloyd, dismissed the claims by Yeeh.
Meanwhile, the AAC governorship candidate, Awara, said he has not received his deputy’s purported resignation letter addressed to him.
Awara, who spoke to journalist on phone, said he saw the letter online, yesterday, adding that he spoke with Yeeh, on Sunday, at about 7:00p.m, and he (his deputy) did not inform him of his resignation.
On the alleged monetary inducement by the PDP, Awara declined his knowledge and reiterated his lack of knowledge about Yeeh’s resignation.
