Defection Waves: Akwa Ibom Deputy Gov Ekpo Dumps PDP
- To join Senator Akpabio in APC
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – Political developments in the South-South State of Akwa Ibom are suddenly on the fast lane with growing speculations that the State Deputy Governor, Pa Moses Ekpo has resigned from office
According to a tweet by @APCNewspaper and ibom.com.ng on Sunday night, though the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-controlled Akwa Ibom Government is yet to officially confirm the resignation, Pa Ekpo may be heading to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in line with current waves of political temperature in the oil producing state.
Competent sources said the once impregnable PDP’s political machinery in the State is being torn apart by intrigues and the unfolding events have left analysts in awe as they struggle to gauge the heat being generated in the State’s political arena.
It is gathered that Pa Moses will be joining forces with his embattled political leader and Senator representing Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial district, Godswill Akpabio, whose planned defection to the APC on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 has ostensibly been perfected by the Party’s National Headquarters and the Presidency.
Popularly called ‘Uncle Mo’ in the State political circles, Ekpo, who at 77 currently holds the record as Nigeria’s oldest Deputy Governor, has always remained one of Akpabio’s eyes in the Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration which the Senate Minority Leader installed after holding sway in the state for eight years between 2007 and 2015.
Forefront gathered from insiders that Pa Moses’ reported resignation is to pave way for his attendance at Senator Akpabio’s defection rally holding this week in Ikot Ekpene. Both political allies are from the same senatorial district.
The same competent sources hinted of permutations that some State National and State Assembly members are massing forces behind Akpabio and Pa Ekpo in readiness for a showdown with the Governor’s camp
Best described as a man of many parts, Pa Ekpo, (MFR) is a ‘consummate Journalist, Public Affairs expert, a Diplomat, an administrator, and a politician of cross-generational appeal’. Born on December 22, 1941 at Abak in Akwa Ibom State, he attended Government School and Holy Family College, in Abak for his primary and secondary education before going to the London Polytechnic, University of Wisconsin, Madison, U.S.A and World Intellectual Property Organization Academy (WIPO), Geneva Switzerland.
‘Uncle Mo’ holds a Diploma and B.Sc. in Journalism and a WIPO Academy Diploma as well as a certificate of the United States Patent Academy. In addition, he has several certificates and diplomas earned from many international workshops and seminars.
His public service career spans over four decades, serving as Proof Reader, Reporter and Editor in several Nigerian newspapers and broadcasting organisations. Pa Ekpo served in senior editorial and management positions in the Daily Express, Daily Times, West African Pilot, the Morning Post, Eastern Nigeria Broadcasting Service and Western Nigeria Broadcasting Service.
For years, he was Nigeria’s country Correspondent for the Voice of America (VOA), Deutsche Welle (Voice of Germany) and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
Similarly, Pa Ekpo was General Manager of Cross River State Newspaper Corporation, Publishers of the Nigerian Chronicle Group of Newspapers. He also served as Chief Information Officer in the Cross River State Government as well as the Chief Public Relations Officer to that Government.
The Akwa Ibom Deputy Governor was also an Assistant Director of Information and Acting Federal Director of Information and Director of Nigerian Information Service with concurrent accreditation to Europe and the Americas.
At different times, he also served as Commissioner for Information, Social Development, Youths & Sports in both Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.
Among other positions he held in the past are: Director, Nigerian Copyright Council; Director-General, Nigerian Copyright Commission; President of the General Assembly, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and a Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission (NPC), Abuja.
The latter was the last position he occupied before being picked for the Deputy Governor office in the joint PDP ticket with his principal, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State. – With NAN reports
