By Chioma Onuegbu

Uyo—More aggrieved governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Akwa Ibom State are leaving the party for opposition parties over the alleged manipulation of the electoral process.

The latest to quit the PDP is one of the frontline contenders in the race to succeed incumbent Governor Godswill Akpabio, Bishop Samuel Akpan, who led hundreds of his supporters to the Accord Party, AP.

Declaring for his new party at his campaign office on Edet Akpan Avenue, Uyo, Akpan said his decision was due to several years of marginalisation in PDP, a party he said he had paid his dues to be properly recognised and compensated.

He said: “My call to service is in response to the yearnings and aspirations of the people of Akwa Ibom State. The lack of internal democracy and dictatorial tendencies forced me to quit the PDP because I recall that despite my contributions, the party had frustrated my senatorial bid in 2011.”

Akpan who prided himself as the candidate to beat in the 2015 race, recalled his antecedent as the apostle that led the foot soldiers for Governor Akpabio’s emergence in 2007 and his re-election in 2011, adding that it was time for him to get his due in 2015.

He assured his supporters of entrenching good leadership and effective delivery of the dividends of democracy if elected into power, stressing that his mission was to fix the state, as well as consolidate on the achievements of the outgoing administration.