APC Gains Support in Ibom as YPP Joins Forces in Solidarity with Akpabio

This act of solidarity was in support of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, as confirmed by a statement from Akpabio’s media office in Abuja.

The governorship candidate of the YPP, Senator Bassey Albert, along with the deputy governorship candidate, retired AIG Asuquo Amba, the State Executive Committee led by State Chairman Mr Nyeneime Andy, the Elders’ Council, chapter and ward officers, and the entire executive council of the Akwa Ubok Abasi campaign organization (totalling over 10,000 members) paid a solidarity visit to the Senate President at his residence in Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area.

During this visit, they declared their support for President Bola Tinubu.

The YPP formed just seven months after the 2023 general election, emerged as the fastest-growing party in the state.

In the 2023 governorship election, the party secured the second-highest number of valid votes and won two seats in the House of Assembly and one in the House of Representatives, according to results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Expressing the party’s stance during the solidarity visit to the Senate President, Ephraim Inyang-Eyen, the YPP candidate for the Eket Senatorial District in the 2023 election, conveyed that the party members reached a unanimous decision to merge with the APC.

He said: “We have come to tell you that the time has come for us to make necessary adjustments for the growth of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria.

We have come with a message of solidarity to you. The last time a person from the South-South zone occupied the position of the Senate President was about 44 years ago. We are determined to stand by you and support you.

We are here to join hands with you (Senate President) to ensure that Akwa Ibom State is not divided. We have come to submit totally to your leadership. We believe and feel strongly that we are safer in APC. After the rerun, our members in the House of Representatives and House of Assembly will join us here.

Senator Albert emphasized that he is not joining the APC to seek election.

In his remarks, the governorship candidate of the YPP in the 2023 election, Senator Bassey Albert, said the party joined the APC to support President Tinubu and join hands with the Senate President to ensure that Akwa Ibom is not divided.

Responding, Senator Akpabio acknowledged the growth of the YPP and the capacity the party demonstrated during the 2023 governorship election. He lauded them for coming out openly to commend Tinubu’s style of administration, policies and programmes aimed at improving the well-being of Nigerians.

He said: “From nothing, you built a recognised political structure in Akwa Ibom State that propelled you to somewhere. Thank you for openly acknowledging that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is leading the nation in the right direction. I tell people, if you can see good governance in Asiwaju, why don’t you join them?