…says his former party has no structure

The member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly ( AKHA ) Hon. Moses Essien, has officially announced his defection from the Young Progressive Party (YPP) to People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Essien, explained under matter of urgent Public Importance on the floor of the Assembly at Tuesday’s Plenary that his defection to the PDP was as a result of the division amongst the leadership of YPP in the State.

In his words: ” I write to notify the Speaker and members of the People’s Democratic party ( PDP ) in the Assembly of the formal resignation of my membership from the Young Progressive Party (YPP) to People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The reason for this action is based on the division within the YPP leadership in Akwa Ibom State, where the 2023 Governorship candidate of the YPP, the state chairman of the party and the State officers including chapter officers of the party and stalwarts of the party decamp to the All Progressive Congress (APC) thereby leaving the party in the state with no tangible structure to fall back on.”

He appreciated the YPP for giving him the political platform to be elected into the State House of Assembly.

Motion to receive the new PDP Member into the umbrella fold was moved by the member representing Ini State Constituency, Hon. Lawrence Udoide and seconded by the Deputy Leader of the House, and Member representing Nsit-Ubium State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Oto-Obong Bob.

Reacting, members in attendance during the plenary, applauded Hon, Essien for the bold decision he has taken to dump the YPP and join the the ruling party (PDP) in the state.

The Speaker of the Assembly ,Rt. Hon. (Elder) Udeme Otong, while welcoming Hon. Essien into the umbrella party, said his entrance has swollen the PDP’s membership to 25 from 24 and congratulated him for taking a step in the right direction.

With the defection of the Ibiono-Ibom lawmaker, the membership strength of the PDP in the House of Assembly has now increased from 24 to 25 out of 26 members.

Meanwhile, plenary has been adjourned to Thursday, 2nd May 2024.