The Akwa Ibom State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Obong Paul A. Ekpo has advised aggrieved members of the party who claim to have formed a faction to use their various positions in the society to support and build the PDP instead of seeking to undermine it.

" What is happening is unfortunate. It is unfortunate because the key actors in the entire saga are the very people who have benefited immensely from the PDP. The platform of the PDP made most of them. My position is that they should be true party members in action. This means that instead of trying to undermine the party, they should use their position to fight and defend its cause. There is no better way to pay back to the political party without which some of us would not have been where we are."

Obong Ekpo spoke to journalists when the conference of the state chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party came on a solidarity visit to the National Chairman of the Party, Dr. Bamanga Turkur.

" The PDP is a big family and you therefore expect that in such a situation, there would be disagreements but we must rise beyond these and emerge stronger. It s important therefore that all party members must support the National Chairman and the National Working Committee to ensure that his agenda of reconciliation and rebuilding of the party succeeds."

According to him, Dr. Turkur has been faithful to the constitution of the PDP and has tirelessly been working to ensure that the manifesto of the party is implemented by all members in elective and other positions.

Obong Ekpo further described Akwa Ibom as an impregnable forte of the PDP, saying that the uncommon transformation of the state under Governor Akpabio has driven the opposition to the backwaters, saying " the people of Akwa Ibom appreciate their lots under the PDP."

On the clamour for the zoning of the governorship position in the state, he said the party was consulting and that its decision would be guided by justice, equity and fairness.

" The party strongly believes in equity, justice and fair play. We are consulting and at the appropriate time, we shall take a decision. But be assured that our people will be happy with that decision."