The lingering crisis in the PDP may have started taking its toll on the Cross River State chapter of the party, where some of its members in Mbube, Ogoja Local Government Area, have decided to abandon the umbrella organization to join the APC. The State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, is from Mbube.
Among the defectors were Chief Abang Anoh, a founding member of the PDP, considered to be a big catch. He moved with his loyalists into the APC. Also, Mr. Anthony Okim Ajaba joined the ruling party with about 120 of his fans in Mbube East 1 and 2. The defectors moved from the four wards of Mbube.
Some of the defectors were said to have come from Mbube West 2, where Mr Stephen Cyril Abang, a former leader of the Ogoja Legislative Assembly comes from.
Abang who spoke at the event expressed excitement that with the support the deputy governor was getting from his home, more development projects would be attracted to Mbube.
Anoh, who was handed a bunch of broom, was treated to a dance party as he danced to tunes by Kizz Daniel, especially the Buga track. With the broom firmly in his hands, he danced round the field, showing how elated he was.
The defectors were received by the respective ward chairmen of the APC and Chief of Personal Staff of the Deputy Governor, Dr Chris Ojikpong.
Ojikpong in an interview with TNN on Wednesday highlighted that the latest harvest of new members was an indication that the PDP was gradually collapsing in Mbube and Ogoja at large. He said the APC was still willing and ready to receive new members from the main opposition party.
He said it was gratifying to notice that the defectors chose to leave their former party to strengthen the APC and support the deputy governor to serve and work with the governor, Senator Bassey Otu, to govern the state.
©TNN