Udoedehe dumps APC, secures NNPP guber ticket in Akwa Ibom

Former interim secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator John Udoedehe, has defected from the party and secured governorship ticket of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Akwa Ibom State.

Udoedehe was a founding member of APC and had failed in his bid to secure the party’s governorship ticket in Akwa Ibom State, which was won by Akan Udofia, who had earlier bought the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship nomination form and reportedly scored two votes.

In a statement addressed to the ward chairman of the party in Uyo Council of the said, he described the decision as painful.

The Guardian gathered that Udoedehe’s decision to resign might not be unconnected with the national secretariat’s failure to recognise his faction of the party in the state.

The letter read in part that: “Henceforth, I cease to be a member of APC in my ward or anywhere for that matter. I hereby relinquish all rights, which inured to me as a member of the APC, member of the national advisory council and member of the national caucus of the APC.

“This decision to part ways with the APC is a tough one, but leadership entails adherence to the wishes of the vast majority of associates, allies and supporters, who have shown fidelity over time and have now witnessed the obduracy of the APC in handling the candidate selection processes in Akwa Ibom State.

“Our greater goal of providing service to the people of our dear state remains sacrosanct,” the letter stated.

It was also learnt that Udoedehe had secured the governorship ticket of the NNPP at the party primary election held the same day he defected from APC.