Akwa Ibom PDP in Disarray

***Defection by Attah, Etiebet to APC stirs disquiet

Just few days to the Presidential elections, a major setback may have hit the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State as two of the former foundation members of the party have switched to the opposition All Progressives Congress, (APC).
The chieftains who crossed over alongside over 50,000 supporters across the state included the immediate former governor of the state, Chief Victor Attah and a one-time Petroleum Minister, Chief Don Etiebet.
The development, coming at a crucial moment is seen as a tactical move to ditch the incumbent governor, Godswill Akpabio as well as President Goodluck Jonathan.
Though it was Attah who handed over to Akpabio after ensuring his emergence, both of them have never seen eyeto- eye ever after. Indeed, for the almost eight years of Akpabio administration, Attah virtually had to relocate outside the state.
In what is seen as payback, Attah completed the routing and Mass Exodus with Etiebet and 50, 000 other members.
The latest development was confirmed during a rally held by the Campaign Organisation of the APC governorship candidate in the state, Umana Okon Umana at the Ibibio Park Grounds in Uyo, last Saturday. Attah and Etiebet respectively, raised the hands of Umana, stating that they were no longer interested in the PDP as they had found an alternative in the opposition party.
This latest development is ex-pected to send shock waves into the camp of the ruling party at the state and national levels following statements of confidence ahead of next week’s election.
In spite of Akpabio’s eight – year rule, Both Attah and Etiebet still control a handsome followership in the state especially with the governor’s dwindling popularity.
The governor’s popularity which had all the while been waning for sometime took a downward spin following last year’s primaries of the party in the state where many of the aspiring candidates lost out due to widespread allegations that the governor imposed his own people.
All efforts made to reconcile the feuding parties had yielded no result as the governor stuck to his guns insisting that his candidates would go to the polls.
Among those also aggrieved in the party is Senator Ita Ennag who wanted to succeed Akpabio but who lost out and has since been at loggerheads with the governor even though he has refused to leave the PDP form the opposition party.
He insisted that he would work for President Goodluck Jonathan in the presidential election while he could not guarantee that his supporters would back Akpabio because according to him, they have been shortchanged.