Mr Ibanga Etang, a Special Assistant on Projects to Akwa Ibom state Governor, Udom Emmanuel has defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Etang, a former Chairman of Esit Eket Local Government, resigned on April 9 before formally registering with the APC at his Etebi Ward 7 along with over 300 followers on April 10.
It would be recalled that few months ago, the governor’s Special Assistant on Electoral Matters, Mr Chris Okorie also dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for APC.
Addressing his supporters at a post-defection meeting on Friday, Etang said with their entry into APC, the party stood 70 per cent chance of winning Esit Eket Local government Area.
Etang, who was also a former President of Afigh Iwaad Ekid, the umbrella youth organization in Eket Federal Constituency, said he left the PDP because of impunity.
“I blame the continuing exodus from the Esit Eket PDP on a situation where an individual takes Esit Eket as his personal property,” he stated.
Etang had also served as Special Assistant to former Gov. Godswill Akpabio. According to him, he has refused overtures from PDP leaders in the state in the last few days not to defect to APC.
He said, “I vowed that my supporters and I have decided to move on and no going back.”
In his resignation letter to the Governor, he said he was leaving because it was “necessary to depart now in line with the dictates of my conscience and highest level of sincerity.”
Receiving the defectors, Mr Bassey Dan-Abia Jnr, a former member of the House of Representatives said the APC has been increasing in number, and expressed optimism that the party would take over the state in 2019.
He commended the defectors for their courage and boldness and assured them of Federal Government lofty programmes for the state.
Seven chieftains of the PDP in the local government have so far defected to APC.
They include Sen. Etang Umoyo, a former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Bassey Dan-Abia, a former NDDC Commissioner, Mr Imaobong Inyang, a retired Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mike Eyo and two former House of Representatives members, Bassey Dan-Abia Jnr and Eseme Eyiboh.