Why I switched to APC – Ayade

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River state has finally dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the decision was to join hands with President Muhammadu Buhari to move the country forward.

He made the anticipated declaration in Calabar, Thursday, in the Executive Council Chambers of the Governor’s Office while playing host to Dr Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state, Senator Hope Uzodimma of Imo, Hon. Simon Lalong of Plateau, Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, the chairman of APC National Caretaker Committee and Yobe state governor, Mr. Mai Mala and Minister of state, petroleum,

Timipre Sylva.

Governor Ayade said: “It is obvious that we need to join hands with Mr President to build the Nigeria that we would be proud of. It is not all about party affiliations, it is about the character, it is about integrity of Mr President and as a team, we shall work with Mr President. Every one of us as governors should do so especially with the kind of tension we have in the country.

“As a leader of the people of Cross River state, and in our resolve to join hands with Mr President to help him succeed, I therefore, on behalf of my people, declare that Cross River state is now APC state.”

This was followed by echoes of ‘we move, we move,’ from political appointees, members of the state House of Assembly, local government chairmen and other political leaders who had, few weeks ago, organised a solidarity rally for Ayade, urging him to leave PDP.

They had accused the PDP national leadership of taking the party structure from the governor and handed it over to National Assembly members who had been in daggers drawn with Ayade over PDP structures.

While congratulating the governor, former Senate leader, Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, said: “On behalf of myself and political associates, I heartily congratulate Your Excellency, Prof. Ben Ayade, governor of Cross River state on your well thought out decision to formally defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) today and join the league of Progressive Governors in Nigeria.’’

Speaking on the defection, former presidential adviser on National Assembly Matters, Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, said the governor’s decision “is a right move in a right direction.”

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