A former deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC in Cross River state, Chief (Barr) Helen Boco Effiom, has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) siting awful reward system as reasons.
Addressing Journalists in Calabar, Saturday, Barr Effiom said as a founding member of the party who had sacrificed resources, time and energy, the APC leadership had employed deceit in relating with foundation members who held the party together as opposition party.
“I am of Ward 9 in Calabar South. I was a foundation member of the APC in my local government area. We used our resources to build the party with all sense of dedication and commitment. As an opposition party back then, we worked hard day and night to build the APC. I have never defected to any party despite the challenges.
“Together with former Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, we contested the 2019 governorship election in Cross River state. Last year, I also contested for the position of National Women Leader but I was denied despite my sacrifice.
“The truth is that no foundation member of the APC has found any joy working for the party because of the appalling reward system. Under this system, the graasrooters are not smilling, the legacy members are not happy.
“Those of us that built the APC are nowhere. We are not appreciated, we are not recognised. They want to retire us and I say ‘no.’ I have been received, mortgaged and I hereby say that enough is enough.
“I want Nigeria to know that I am no more a member of the APC. I resigned my membership yesterday and went ahead to formally register with the People’s Democratic Party in Ward 9 of Calabar South as a member.
“As a PDP member and an established grassrooter,I shall mobilized my supporters, who are massive, for the victory of my new party in the coming elections,” she said.
Barr Effiom disclosed that the presidential candidate of PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, had already appointed her as Deputy National Campaign Coordinator of the Atiku/Okowa 2023.
