Thousands of former APC members, led by  the chapter and ward chairmen from all local government areas of Akwa Ibom State, converged at the Ibom Hall Ground, Uyo, the state capital, on Monday, December 10, 2018.

After waving brooms during the defection event, the defectors sealed their defection to the PDP by dropping brooms in a pile and setting them on fire. The defectors also displayed a white coffin with 'APC RIP' inscribed on it.

State governor, Udom Emmanuel, was present at the event to receive the defectors who the chairman of the forum of APC Chapter Chairmen, Joseph Ama, said were the support base built up since 2008. Ama said they left the APC because of the party's reign of impunity.

Udom described the defection as unprecedented and said the defectors' convictions could not be bought over.

"In the history of politics, I've never seen this before. You people have made history," he said.