From Joe Effiong, Uyo
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State has described defectors to other parties as “selfish lighweights.”
PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ini Ememobong, told Daily Sun, yesterday, that although the party will not celebrate when people defect to other political platforms, the party would not also continue to harbour greedy and inefficient members whose only reason for being in the party is to feather their nests.
“We said we are going to have an open, front door and closed backdoor policy. In this policy, there are windows; if someone struggles to want to go out through the window, leave him. We will do everything to keep reasonable people with integrity and political value inside.
“It doesn’t mean we are not worried by the fact that those who used to be our members are defecting because every reasonable person who enjoys fellowship would.
“There must be political ideology and political prostitution is a political ideology, don’t forget. Politics is a game of interest, but the interest defined by a person must suit with the general interest of the party.
“If someone who has benefitted from the party; has been an aide to a governor for eight years, has gone to the House of Representatives for two terms and he did not even do well there, he now comes here and says he wants a third term, we now tell him: ‘Sorry, the zoning in your place does not favour you; you have not also done particularly very well,’ then he says he wants to defect…”