Akpabio’s Defection: Senator declares support for Gov. Udom

Amidst reports that some politicians in Akwa Ibom are set to join Godswill Akpabio in defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the senator representing Uyo Senatorial District, Bassey Albert, has declared his political support for the state governor, Udom Emmanuel.

Mr Albert, who spoke through the chairman of his constituency office, Uyo, Daniel Udoh, told PREMIUM TIMES, Monday morning, that he remained a committed member of the PDP.

“It is not true; it is a lie,” Mr Udoh said while dismissing speculations that Senator Albert was leaving the PDP.

“Senator Albert is absolutely in support of Governor Udom Emmanuel.

“The people of Uyo senatorial district are committed and are working for the re-election of the governor, and are determined to remain in the PDP.

“The senatorial district is 100 per cent for Governor Emmanuel, so it’s not possible for the senator to do anything otherwise.

“The senator has consulted widely with the people of the senatorial district, and the people are in solidarity with the governor.

“That’s the position of the senator. I am saying this authoritatively,” Mr Udoh said.

Mr Abert served as finance commissioner in the state under the Akpabio administration before he left for the Senate in 2015.

He is a first-timer in the Senate, just like Mr Akpabio.

Mr Akpabio’s expected defection has rattled many in Akwa Ibom, especially the officials of the state government and members of the PDP. With the development, the PDP in the state now has only one senator, which is Mr Albert.

A third senator, Nelson Effiong, who represents Eket Senatorial District, where Governor Emmanuel comes from, defected from PDP to APC since January 2017.

There is a general apprehension in the state over who and who is likely to defect to the APC with the Mr Akpabio.

Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom state government has reacted to the rumour that the deputy governor, Moses Ekpo, has resigned from office following Mr Akpabio’s defection.

“It’s not true that the deputy governor has resigned, he is in the U.S. attending Ati Annang Convention,” the Commissioner for Information in the state, Charles Udoh, told PREMIUM TIMES, Monday morning.