A group of committed members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, under the aegis of APC Professionals, has totally rejected the alleged defection of Hon. Emmanuel Ukoette, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Federal Lawmaker, representing Oruk Anam/Ukanafun Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives to the APC.
The group describe the move as a ploy by Ukoette to usurp the party and hijack the already laid down structures of the party to feather his own selfish political nest, thereby reaping from where he did not sow. In a statement signed by Friday Ebong, National Coordinator and Ekikere Udoutin, National Secretary, the group said that the APC in Akwa Ibom has rejected the purported defection of Emmanuel Udoette to the party, maintaining that the party in Akwa Ibom State was not a dumping ground for political Jobbers, charlatans and miscreants.
They called on the State Chapter of the Party to set up a high powered investigation panel to unravel the mystery behind Emmanuel Ukoette’s defection, because according to the group, Ukoette’s defection was born out of greed and purely selfish interest.
The group challenged the APC in the state to critically look at all the allegations leveled against Emmanuel Ukoette which borders on insensitivity to the plight of his constituency, lack of accountability, inability to sponsor even a single Bill and speak up on issues affecting the Federal Constituency, inability to attract projects and Federal presence to his Federal Constituency, among other very biting issues.
According to Friday Ebong “If Emmanuel Ukoette, under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party, as a two term representative of the people of Oruk Anam/Ukanafun Federal Constituency, has fallen short of all allegations leveled against him by his people, then what is he coming to do in the APC. The answer is simple. Gani has discovered that because of his inability to affect the lives of the people of his Federal Constituency, he does not stand a chance of winning any election again under the PDP.
He has now decided to play smart and jump boat into the APC. He wants to use the APC to actualize his inordinate political ambitions. He thinks we are fools. We are waiting for him. Let him first of all go and render his account of stewardship to his constituents, whom he has represented for over five years now. We do not want him in our party.
The APC in Akwa Ibom is not for the likes of Emmanuel Ukoette. He wants to come and reap from where he did not sow. We will stop at nothing to frustrate his efforts.
The statement warned all those who think they can just milk their own party dry, short change their constituents, then decide to cross over to the APC to have a rethink, as the party has repositioned itself to stop them from coming in to also destroy the party.
It warned Mr. Emmanuel Ukoette, to steer clear of all APC activities in the state as he was not welcome in the party