C/River: Ayades’ Defection; floodgate of frontline politicians to APC – State Chairman

By Tom Okpe, Abuja

Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Mathew Mbu hàs revealed that defection of Gov Ben Ayade from the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party, (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress, (APC) is a floodgate of frontline politicians in the State to the ruling party.

Mbu who spoke with newsmen at the party secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday said more notable politicians, including National and State Assembly members will soon be joining the party in the state.

He explained that when he emerged as the Caretaker Committee Chairman in 2020, the party in the state was in crisis, and he had the task of unifying the party, working towards leading the party to win the state in the 2023 governorship election.

“When I got the mandate of party Chairman in the state, the party was divided and needed a unifier. They asked me to unite them and to turn the state into APC.

“We started unifying the party and God went further to bless us with the defection of Governor Ben Ayade. In fact, our aim was to get the state in 2023 but to our pleasant surprise, it came earlier than we thought.”

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On the reported case of some APC faithfuls not happy with the coming of the governor, the Chairman said contrary to the report, people were happy with his coming.

“I know that some people were not happy with his coming, but concerning the position of the lawmakers who have refused to follow him, everything will fall in line in due course.

“When I was made the chairman, somebody said the party will become an APC state but they did not believe him, but I tell you that APC has come to stay in Cross River State. In the state, everybody is happy,” adding that the APC has come to stay in Cross River State.