Over 37,000 opposition members decamp to PDPs in A’Ibom

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

No fewer than 37,000 members of opposition parties in Akwa Ibom were received into the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) by the State Governor, Mr Umo Eno.

Eno during the reception rally in Uyo on Friday cautioned them against disrespect to leaders, especially at the centre.

“We welcome you sincerely into the party, PDP is not a party that insults leaders, as you come back, one of the things I want you to drop is an attack on leaders. For example, the President of the country, Senator Bola Tinubu. We have to show him optimum respect and support.

“The PDP I run don’t attack leaders, we have to support leaders and not fight them because as a pastor, I am trained to respect people.

“We must show the character of humility, compassion and respect to Constituted Authorities. That we will continue to do as a party,” Eno said.

Eno said that growth and progress can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace, love and unity.

He urged them to collapse all past structures in their possession to the PDP structure to show sincerity of purpose and seriousness.

The governor promised the returnees equal opportunities to serve in the party and the state, adding that the PDP umbrella is large enough to accommodate everybody in the state.

“If we truly love our state, if we truly love the people, let us realize that we have no other state than Akwa Ibom and we need to work together as a people irrespective of ethnic affection.

“Thank you for coming to this realisation, we received you today because we are one, we come from one stock, thank you for understanding that.

“It is only in the atmosphere of peace and unity that there can be progress.

“We have accepted you wholeheartedly, without segregation.

“We have spoken to the leadership of all the units, wards and local government areas to receive and work with you for the growth of the PDP,” he said.

In his remarks, the state PDP Chairman, Mr Aniekan Akpan, described the reception rally as the mother of all rallies in the state.

Akpan assured the returnees, who are mostly former leaders of the PDP of full reintegration into the family.

“On the orders of the governor, we collated the data of all those that wanted to defect to the PDP from other parties.

“We have a record of over 37,000 members of other political parties who indicated interest to return to the PDP today,” Akpan said.

Speaking on behalf of the returnees, leaders of other parties, which included: former state secretary of APC, Mr Nkereuwem Enyong-Ekere, expressed their sincere readiness to collapse all their structures to PDP.

He said the returnees were members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Young Progressives Party (YPP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP) among other political parties.