The defection of some prominent politicians and eminent citizens in Cross River to All Progressives Congress (APC) may have jolted the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as it has discreetly deployed its leaders and political appoin­tees to their various com­munities to boost the party’s image.
In the last couple of weeks, PDP stalwarts, Gov­ernor Ben Ayade’s kinsmen and some prominent elders have defected to APC with their supporters, fuelling speculations that the ruling PDP in the state is in crisis.
Ayade’s kinsmen who have dumped PDP for APC include immediate past commissioner representing Cross River in the Niger Delta Development Com­mission (NDDC), Paul Adah, former national pub­licity secretary of the PDP, Venatius Ikem, immediate past chairman of the state board of internal revenue and governorship aspirant in the last elections and serving caucus chief of PDP, Obudu chapter, Dr. Peter Oti as well as the most popular gov­ernorship aspirant and the son of paramount ruler of Obudu, Prince Goddy Jeddy Agba.
Other notable political heavy weights including P. J. Ekunke, former gov­ernorship aspirant, Francis Bullem (both from Ogoja), former Labour Party gov­ernorship candidate, Fidelis Ugbo (from Obanlikwu), former governor Clement Ebri, former Senate leader, Victor Ndoma Egba (SAN), and Chief Alex Egbuna have all defected to the APC.
Sources close to APC of­fice in Calabar told Daily Sun that the party was pre­paring to receive more poli­ticians including Senator Bassey Otu and Chief Sam Bassey, among others, from the southern senatorial zone into their fold.
Investigations also re­vealed that the leadership of PDP in the state was worried at the gale of defection of its members and re-alignment of some prominent citizens ahead of future elections.
And to forestall further movement, some PDP stal­warts and some of the gov­ernor’s aides are said to have relocated to their communi­ties especially in Obudu, Obanliku, Bekwrra, Ogoja and Yala to dissuade those intending to jump boat and possibly drum up support for the party.