YPP storms Eket Senatorial District, commissions party secretariat in Onna, receives defectors
Akwa Ibom State chapter chairman of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Pastor Nyeneime Andy, has stated that with the rapid growth in the number of active supporters and deep penetration of the party across all local government areas of the State, YPP is on a mission and a party to beat in 2023.
He further observed that the party is the only one in the State with fresh ideas, a realistic manifesto and a message of hope that appeals to all and sundry, stressing that such is the reason for the mass defections of members of other political parties to the ever-expanding YPP fold on daily basis.
He made the observation yesterday during the commissioning of the ONNA local government chapter Secretariat of YPP in Ndoneyo, ONNA local government area.
Recall, ONNA is the domain local government area of the governor of the State, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, where his former Chief of Staff and immediate past commissioner for Works, Akparawa Ephraim Inyangeyen, who had since joined the YPP and the party’s candidate for the Senate in 2023 in Eket Senatorial District, also hails from.
According to Pastor Nyeneime Andy, YPP was out to change things for good for the Akwa Ibom people.
He said: “Come 2023 the next governor of Akwa Ibom will emerge on the platform of the YPP. I hereby advise contending political parties in the State to send their best to the field because YPP is a party to beat. I however use this occasion to commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for fairness in its handling of processes, especially complying with the new Electoral Law. YPP is set to take over Akwa Ibom”.
Recall that less than a month ago, Pastor Andy had stepped down and jettisoned his governorship ambition in favour of the present flag-bearer of YPP for 2023, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, whom he said is a candidate with superior pedigree, better chances and deeper experience to alter the dynamics of governance in Akwa Ibom State.
Performing the inauguration of the party Secretariat, an imposing edifice strategically located in Ndoneyo in the heart of the local government area, the party chair maintained that the unanimous choice of the governorship candidate of the party in 2023, Obong Bassey Albert, the incumbent Senator representing Uyo Senatorial District at the National Assembly, was a decision Akwa Ibom people will ever live to celebrate.
The commissioning of the ONNA chapter office was preceded by similar events earlier in the day in Okobo and Urue Offong/ Uruko local government areas, also in Eket Senatorial District.
The exercise also witnessed mass defection of individuals who previously held critical positions in other political parties, totalling 1, 487, to the YPP and who were promptly received and issued membership cards by the ONNA Chapter chairman, Mr. Victor Daniel.
In his remarks, Mr. Victor Daniel particularly thanked Senator Bassey Albert, for accepting to carry the collective aspirations of Akwa Ibom people as the party’s flagbearer.
He also poured encomiums on Akparawa Ephraim Inyangeyen, commending him for his selfless sacrifices and being a generous and charismatic grassroots mobilizer and pillar to the party in ONNA and the State.
Welcoming the defectors, Mr. Daniel said they all have made the right and timely choices in joining the winning team.
In separate goodwill messages, some of the decampees who spoke described the YPP as a party of the masses with a template of inclusive governance, hence their decision to join the train before it was too late.
They said with the present discontent in the state and country arising from failure of leadership and lack of people-targeted policies, it was time Akwa Ibom people seized the opportunity and embraced a party with fresh ideas if they expect to move out of the present situation.
Those who spoke include former caretaker committee chairman of ONNA, Dr. Joshua Ndoho; former deputy chairman of PDP and immediate past auditor of the PDP in the local government area, Elder Emmanuel Ekeyo; and former women leader in the PDP, Miss Promise Nkanta. Others include a representative of Youths of YPP, Mr. James Christopher; and former assistant publicity secretary of the PDP, Mr. Sunday Udo Amasi, who disclosed that he resigned from his former party to join the winning team.
Present also at the commissioning were the party leadership and faithful, including Akparawa Ephraim inyangeyen; YPP’s candidate for Uyo Senatorial District, Barr. Usenobong Akpabio; YPP’ House of Assembly Candidate for ONNA State constituency, Uwem Uquang; former chairman of Uyo local government area, Mr. Imo Okon, among others.
Different sociopolitical organizations, students, women groups and cultural displays lined the streets of ONNA to welcome OBA and his team thus adding colour and momentum to the event.
