NEWS: NIGERIA - Defection: PDP stalwarts, Ayade’s kinsmen switch parties in Cross River

The gale of defection in Cross River State has continued unabated as a former member of the House of Representatives and immediate past Commissioner representing Cross River state in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Hon. Paul Adah and his teeming supporters have defected to the APC.

Other PDP stalwarts and Governor Ben Ayade’s kinsmen that have also dumped the party for APC include the former national publicity secretary of the PDP, Barr Venatius Ikem, the immediate past chairman of the state board of internal revenue and governorship aspirant in the last elections and the serving Caucus chief of PDP, Obudu chapter, Dr. Peter Oti, as well as the most popular governorship aspirant and the son of the paramount ruler of Obudu, Prince Gody Jeddy Agba.

Before now, notable political heavyweights, including PJ Ekunke, former guber aspirant, Francis Bullem (both from Ogoja), former LP governorship candidate, Fidelis Ugbo (from Obanlikwu), former governor Clement Ebri, former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma Egba SAN, Chief Alex Egbuna have also left the PDP to the APC in the Central Senatorial District of the State.

Welcoming the former PDP strong men into his new political family at a rally at Begiading Ward in Obudu local government area on behalf of the national assembly, the spokesperson of the Senate, Senator Dino Melaye, said PDP had failed to meet the aspirations of the people of Nigeria and assured the crowd that the APC was poised to take over Cross River state in the next election.

Mealye said, “With the heavyweights I have seen here today even when the governor is from this local government, any elections that would be taking place in the state again would be used to celebrate the obituary of the PDP. You were living in the land of Egypt, so (now) I welcome you to the promise land”.

Speaking at their official registration with the APC in Begiande1 political ward in Obudu Local Government area of the state, a two-time member representing Obudu/Bekwerra/Obanliku federal constituency, Rt. Hon Paul Adah, said leaving the PDP was a big burden which he has taken off his back.

Hon. Adah, who was the leader of other kinsmen who dumped the PDP from the governor’s local government, explained that their decision was hinged on the insensitivity of the state government to address urgent issues of public interest.

According to Adah, who is Ayade’s kinsman, “Our decision to go to the APC is the best decision we have taken at this time. We know the implication of the decision, especially as the governor is from our local government; we know we will be attacked and abused, but we have seen clearly that we are not in the best of times.

“As a leader and a politician, there is nothing as bad as not satisfying what the people you represent, the people who believe in you would want. So it is better for people to know that I am not part of this government in the state than to appear as somebody who can add to the development of the state yet cannot do anything,” the representative stated.

But fielding questions from newsmen on the spate of defection of PDP members to APC in Calabar, the Senator representing Cross river Central Senatorial district, Sen John Owan-eno, said there is no need for anybody to panic as those said to have defected have since left the PDP even before the general elections.

Owan-Eno said, “Before now those who have defected to APC were no longer in PDP. Rather, they constituted themselves into opposition within PDP and we still won the election. So, their defection makes no impact within our party.

Also reacting, the PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Moses Bisuakefe, said “the rate of defection is worrisome at this critical period. However, we have put machinery in place to strengthen the party.”


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