Nsit Ubium, the home local government area of Pastor Umo Eno, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State, emptied into the streets on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, despite the heavy rain, to celebrate the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and its standard bearer, Senator Albert Bassey Akpan.
Against all negative predictions that YPP will not have a foothold there, a tumultuous crowd lined the streets to welcome the team with exciting songs, while dancing and waving the now famous symbol of the young party, the leaves.
The party, led by its state chairman, Apostle Nyeneime Andy, was in Nsit Ubium in continuation of its state-wide tour to inaugurate offices of the party across the state.
Andy, alongside the gubernatorial candidate, Senator Albert Akpan, his running mate, AIG Asuquo Amba (rtd) and other party stalwarts, who stormed the local government headquarters of Ikot Edibon in Nsit Ubium also formally, opened the YPP Youths Acquisition Skills Centre.
The occasion took a different turn when Mr Anthony Akpan, a candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the Nsit Ubium State Constituency of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, led 1,431 others to decamp to YPP.
Related: We Embrace YPP For A New And Better Akwa Ibom – Nsit Ibom Voters
Akpan said he had stepped down from the contest to formally join forces with YPP to bring OBA as the next Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
“I, Anthony Akpan, from Obotim Ward 1 Nsit1, Ubium today declare my support for OBA and YPP. I have collapsed my structure for the YPP. The Ika, Obot Akara, Etim Ekpo and Ini chapter chairmen of ADC defect alongside me to carry the leaves as the only sign of hope for the Akwa Ibom people”.
The chapter chairman of YPP, Mr Moses Sam, in his welcome address described the state chairman of the YPP as the “Joshua of our time” and thanked him for steering the affairs of the party to what it has grown to become today.
“The next and perhaps the best Governor in our state will be OBA. As we are having our office today, we will work for our son, OBA, to emerge as Governor. Nsit Ubium is YPP, YPP is Nsit Ubium. As you can see, my blood is YPP. We have buried every other party that has died to embrace the YPP”, the chairman assured.
While performing the inauguration of the office and Skills Centre, the state chairman said: “Let me specially thank you all for coming out under the rain to witness this great ceremony. Your incoming Governor is here, and he will address all your problems when he takes over. I can assure you that when we take over power in 2023, we will reward you for your love for the party”.
“Today, we didn’t come to campaign, but to open the party office, the youth acquisition centre, as well as receive the thousands of the decampees from other parties joining the YPP’s great family,” Apostle Andy assured.
“This skills acquisition centre is to train and develop the people of Nsit Ubium. We want to train our youths to properly engage them. Before now we come into government, we will train the youths here to be self-reliant and self-employed,” Apostle Andy added.
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Barr. Daniel Udofia, a former PDP stalwart, in his goodwill message, said that Nsit Ubium has fully adopted YPP.
“We do not doubt that our son, OBA, who is taking over in 2023 has proven to be the best. He will deliver on the mandate we will give him in 2023. Our people have given the assurance that they will support him for quality leadership from next year.”
He then thanked OBA for his love for the Nsit Ubium people and urged all; especially the youths and women to embrace him come 2023
