No fewer than 15 leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State defeceted to the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the weekend.
The defectors were led by its former Chairman, Ita Toyo.
Their defection was held at a prayer summit and reception organised by the party and supporters of APC governorship candidate in the April 11, 2015 election, Umana Okon Umana.
Other defectors are: Senator Aloysius Etuk, Eseme Eyibo (former PDP House of Representatives member), Ita Udosen, Okon Osung, Mike Etim, Dr. Friday Etuk, who were local government chairmen.
Scores of APC members and Umana’s supporters from the 31 local government areas witnessed the defection.
They described Umana as their “governor” and “symbol of freedom”.
The prayer meeting was meant to praise God for His blessings upon the nation, the state, APC’s expansion in the state and God’s mercies on the residents.
The only Bible reading for the prayer was taken from Psalm 62: 1 to 12. It was read by Obong Umana; the opening and closing hymns were: Oh God, Our Help in Ages Past and Through the Love of God, Our Saviour.
A frontline cleric, Pastor Daniel K. Ebong, noted that God had completed what He started by ensuring that the governorship election of April 16, last year, was cancelled.
The cleric likened Umana’s case to that of the Biblical Moses, who was divinely guided until he delivered the Israelites from Egypt.
He said the battle to deliver Akwa Ibom had been fought, adding that God was about to deliver the state by using Umana as He did for Israel using Moses.
Umana, who started his speech with a song of praise, said God had given Akwa Ibom residents victory by granting his efforts with series of victories from the election tribunal and the Appeal Court.
The APC candidate called for prayers to enable the party triumph at the Supreme Court.
He urged the people to vote for APC in the rerun so that the party would produce a governor of their choice and not through an imposition.
He said: “The victories at the tribunal and the Court of Appeal – on October 21, 2015 and December 18, 2015, were not just for me. They were victories for the people of Akwa Ibom State.
“As a people and a state, you have proven to be unconquerable; you have shown that no weapon or amount of money can break your spirit or bend your resolve. May God bless you all.
“My special appreciation goes to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, for his able leadership that is stabilising the polity. Also the Judiciary, for upholding the truth and confirming the verdict of international election monitors, including the U.S Government, the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU), all of who held unanimously in their reports last year that there were no elections in Akwa Ibom State…”