by crossriverwatch admin
National Vice-Chairman South South of the All Progressives Congress APC, Mr. Hilliard Eta has predicted an imminent ‘exodus’ from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP and other parties into the APC before the 2015 elections.
He averred that the massive defection will be a product of the growing disenchantment of the electorate with the ruling PDP.
Eta made the remark in Calabar, Cross River state while receiving a crowd of defectors from the ruling PDP led by a former chairmanship aspirant, Hon. Effiong Ekarika who defected to the APC.
He noted that there was a growing disenchantment with the PDP by the electorate across the country following the many years of bad governance by the ruling party.
Maintaining that no fewer than three governors and an army of members of the ruling PDP were soon to cross over to the APC , the party chieftain said the PDP has failed to implement its own part of the social contract with the people since 1999.
“I was alive when we use to travel to Ikom within two hours; I was alive when we use to travel to Uyo within minutes but today it takes more than four hours to get to Ikom. There are no roads. There are no hospitals. There are no good schools.
“What the PDP has brought to us is heavy taxation. I am not saying that payment of tax is bad but when there is nothing to show for the tax collected from the citizenry, it becomes robbery!’’
He urged the new members to maintain a high sense of integrity in their resolve to leave the PDP saying ‘’because I know there will come with their pittance to buy you over. Don’t collect!’’
Also speaking, state chairman of the APC, Pastor Usani Usani said the party secretariat doors are wide open to attend to whatever interest and needs the new members may have so as to be fully integrated into the party and appreciated them for their boldness to leave the PDP in the face of undue intimidation and antagonism’’.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors ,Hon. Ekarika said there were disenchanted with the ruinous tendencies of the PDP stating that their political relevance was no longer guaranteed in the party hence their decision to defect to the APC.
Ekarika who was chairmanship aspirant in last year’s council polls in the state chided the PDP leadership over what he called ‘’stifling democracy through imposition of candidates during elections’’.
He assured that he will bring his experience and clout to bear in ensuring that the APC takes the lead in the 2015 general elections in the state.
The event which was held at the popular Bay-Side axis of Calabar South local government area saw thousands of jubilant youths and women in full APC colors brandishing their brooms as they marched round major roads within the area chanting songs and party slogans.
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