The lawmaker representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Bassey Akpan on Wednesday dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Akpan was elected under the PDP platform in 2019. Three years after, he was a frontline PDP governorship aspirant in Akwa Ibom but lost to Pastor Umo Eno, former commissioner for lands and water resources in the state on May 25.

Having failed to clinch the PDP governorship ticket, he defected to the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in his bid to succeed outgoing governor Udom Emmanuel in 2023.

His decision to defect to the YPP was contained in a letter addressed to the Senate and read by the Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan during legislative proceedings.

In the letter, Senator Akpan says It’s clear to him that the center can no longer hold in the Akwa Ibom state chapter of the PDP as the party could only support one candidate during the governorship primary even when called upon to present a level playing field for all contestants.

He further stated that events leading to the party’s governorship primary made it difficult for him to participate.

Senator Akpan also said the development in the PDP compelled him to dump the party for the YPP.

Senator Akpan is the Chairman Senate Committee on Petroleum Upstream. (Channels TV)