PDP structure in A’Ibom remains intact – Ex-Rep

Iniobong Emmanuel, Uyo

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This is no longer news. In a swift reaction, a PDP chieftain and former House of Representatives member, Dr. Michael Enyong, has assured that the party’s structure remains intact in the state.

Speaking in an interview with Journalists in Uyo, the state capital, on Monday, Dr. Enyong, popularly known as ‘Babantan’, recalled that “the people who make PDP win elections are still in the party. They will sustain the party’s winning streak in future elections.”

“I am Dr. Michael Enyong. My nickname is ‘Babantan.’ I speak from a place of authority as a man who has been contesting elections and winning. In 2015, I contested an election on the platform of the PDP. I won the election to represent the good people of Uyo/Nsit Atai/Uruan/Ibesikpo Asutan Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. This was during the 8th National Assembly.

“In 2019, I contested and won again on the platform of the PDP. I represented the same good people of that federal constituency during the 9th National Assembly. I was the Chairman of the Committee on Solid Minerals Development.

“In 2023, I also contested the governorship election in Akwa Ibom State. The Federal High Court and the INEC declared me the authentic Governorship Candidate of the PDP. However, the Supreme Court ruling restored Umo Eno as the candidate.

“I’m telling you clearly. PDP is still intact in Akwa Ibom State. This is despite Umo Eno’s defection,” he recalled.

Michael Enyong is widely known and regarded as the ‘Lion of Akwa Ibom Politics’. He therefore assured that “PDP is in the consciousness of the Akwa Ibom people.” He stated that PDP would always win elections any day.

“I want to emphasize that the Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom State is still intact. It remains very strong, despite the defection of Governor Umo Eno to APC,” he said.

“We’re ready to reorganize our party, the PDP in Akwa Ibom State, and prepare to win massively in future elections.

“I can assure you that PDP is still a religion in Akwa Ibom. Major stakeholders in the state politics are still with the PDP. We’re not worried at all by the defection of Umo Eno to APC. Come 2027, PDP will file candidates for the general elections and our candidates will win massively,” he stressed.

He faulted the governor’s hurried defection. It occurred just two years after a party he rode to victory in 2023. He described the act as “playing double standard”.

The former lawmaker called on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP to take action. They should stop the governor’s continued meddlesomeness and interference in his former party’s activities and programmes. This action follows the governor’s statement that he would continue to control the PDP structure and, APC.

“I want to also mention here that it is an issue of playing double standard. He made a comment that while he defects to APC, he would also hold on to PDP structure. This way, no one can use the platform of the PDP to fight him. Such a statement is double standard and unacceptable,” Enyong said.

The migration across party lines, the ex-lawmaker explained, is that defection from one political party to another carries some legal implications, noting that

“Section 221 of the Constitution states clearly that a political party shall sponsor a candidate in an election. Umo Eno cannot legally defect to APC. He rode on the platform of the PDP to clinch victory at the polls.”

According to him, “Governor Eno has not provided a sensible reason for leaving the PDP.” He urged the national leadership of the party to declare the governor’s position vacant. Additionally, he suggested challenging the governor’s defection in the court of law.