JUST IN: Another PDP senator resigns from party, defects to YPP
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Albert Bassey Akpan
The Akwa-Ibom State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to be heading to golgotha, as Senator Albert Bassey Akpan has officially resigned his membership of the party.
He also announced his immediate defection to Young Progressives Party (YPP).
Mr Akpan in a statement addressed to the Senate president and it’s leadership, said he is resigning his membership of the PDP following the controversy that trailed the governoship primary of the party in Akwa-Ibom State.
According to Bassey, the lack of level playing field that greeted the party’s gubernatorial primary has led to serious rancor and some steep differences in the ranks of PDP.
He however said that based on the existing face-off in the party, he is constrained to bow to the wish of his people to resign his membership of the party.
Part of the statement reads, “I write to notify Your Excellency, The Senate President – Nigeria, the Senate leadership, and the entire Nigerian Senate of my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) effective from July 15, 2022.
“I must admit that the Official Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Nigeria has offered me the opportunity to serve in several capacities in government over the years, including serving as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and I remain grateful to the party to that extent. However, it is now clear to me and my supporters that the center can no longer hold in the Akwa Ibom state chapter of the PDP since the party hierarchy decided to adopt and favour only one preferred candidate before and during the governorship primaries.
“The determination of the state chapter of the Party to support the preferred candidate could not even be halted by every attempt to call for a level playing field and its associated controversies.
“In view of the foregoing, the agitations have led to serious rancor and some steep differences in the ranks of the party, and this had presented me with a compelling reason to consult my people on our future in the PDP. I must state that my supporters had earlier presented me with a nomination form after paying for the same to encourage me to contest the party primaries for nomination of the Governorship candidate of the party but unfortunately, events leading to the party primaries for the governorship made it impossible for me to participate in the primaries.
“Therefore, I am constrained to bow to the wish of my people who have advised that in view of the state of affairs that exist now in the party, I should resign my membership of the party.
“As a result of the foregoing, I resigned my membership of the PDP and now joined the Young Progressives Party (YPP), which has now become my new party.
“I thank you for your support and understanding. Please accept my sincere regards.”
