Former governorship candidate of the Young People’s Party, YPP and first runner up in the 2023 governorship election in Akwa Ibom state, Sen.Bassey Albert Akpan and his running mate, Mr Amba, have dumped the YPP for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Announcing this decision yesterday at the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District Stakeholders Meeting, the state chairman of the party, Apostle Nyeneime Andy disclosed that his party’s decision to settle for the APC was to align with the central government and link Akwa Ibom state therewith, to attract the much needed development into the state.
According to the former chairman, this decision was also taken after due and exhaustive consultations with the state leadership of the party, in order to prepare those concern for the task ahead of the 2027 elections in the state.
Receiving the decampees into the APC family the state Chairman, described the development as a timely intervention to rescue Akwa Ibom state from its present minority status and link it with the centre,where every developmental stride abounds.
He described Akwa Ibom as being blessed with the present administration under President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the President of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen Godswill Akpabio, who he described as the pride of the Niger Delta region in particular and the country in particular.
Also welcoming the former members of the YPP family, the leader of the party in the state and President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio expressed happiness on the decision by the former YPP members to join the APC, especially coming at a time when the state needs Federal presence and other noticeable programmes of government to solve many developmental issues starring in the face.
Recognising Sen. Bassey Albert Akpan as his political son, Sen. Godswill Akpabio said at the appropriate time, the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would be duly informed of this lofty position, assuring that at the appropriate time, he(President) will be invited to the state a formal reception would be put in place to formally receive the decampees, who, he described as old time friends and brothers from different mothers.
Other decampees on the occasion include, former senatorial candidate of the YPP, Mr Ephraim Inyang-eyen among others.
The occasion was witnessed by eminent dignitaries from far and near.