Stalwarts urge PDP to declare seats of defectors vacant, dissolve exco in A/ Ibom

From Isaac Job, Uyo

Stakeholders of Akwa Ibom State chapter of  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have urged the national secretariat of the party to initiate legal action to declare seats of some House of Assembly and National Assembly members from the state who defected with Governor Umo Eno to the All Progressives Congress (APC) for flimsy reasons.

They also want the national leadership of PDP to dissolve the state executives of the party in the state alleging that they have conspired with Eno to sell out the party to strangers.

Addressing a press conference in Uyo, leader of PDP Stalwarts, Prince Jeremiah Udo Akpanudoh, described defection of Governor Eno as disrespect not only to PDP that brought him despite all his frailties but to the entire Akwa Ibom people.

Akpanudoh described the defection of Eno as double standard and betrayal of Akwa Ibom people who gave him the mandate in 2023 election in the state.

“His defection is also seen as a double standard because he made a comment that while he defects to APC, he will also hold on to PDP so that no one can use the platform for the reason it was formed. Such a statement is a double standard. It has caused so much disunity in Akwa Ibom and made the people to be stranded.”

Akpanudoh, an indigene of Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Akwa Ibom state Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) to immediately conduct bye election into the office of governor of Akwa Ibom State, national and state assembly members who defected with Governor Eno.

“I call on INEC and AKISIEC to immediately declare the seat of Governor Umo Eno and other defectors vacant and prepare to conduct a bye election as soon as possible. Remember, their faces were not on the ballot papers. The good people of Akwa Ibom voted for PDP and not names. They cannot take the mandate of PDP to APC

“We are currently consulting our lawyers to institute court action to interpret the eligibility or otherwise of the defection of Pastor Umo Eno and his co – travellers to APC.

Akpanudoh insisted that the National Working Committee of PDP should dissolve the state executives of the party in Akwa Ibom and set up another that will deliver the party in 2027.

“All elected officials on the platform of the party who have defected to APC, be it the governor, deputy governor, senators, federal and state House of Assembly members, local government chairmen should immediately vacate their seats. It is not a matter of PDP, it is a matter of saving our democracy.

“I want to let the world know that Akwa Ibom State does not have a one party system. In 2027, PDP will file their candidates and an election will hold in this town and the will of the people must prevail by the grace of God.”