By Anietie Akpan
PDP in Cross River State has sunk into comatose as some top leaders and members of the party are now leaving the party in droves to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).
Latest in the decamping is the exit of top PDP juggernauts in Abi, through Yakurr, Obubra, Ikom and Boki LGAs of Central Senatorial District.
Top on the list is the former PDP flag bearer in the 2023 House of Representatives election for Boki/Ikom Federal Constituency in the state, Barr. Attah Ochinke.
Barr Ochinke, was also the Commissioner for Trade and Investment in the State, from 1999 to 2003 under former Governor Donald Duke. He served as Legal Adviser to then Governor Liyel Imoke, between 2007 and 2010 and was appointed Attorney General from October, 2010 to May, 2015.
Others in the latest defection galore are, former chapter Chairman of PDP in Boki Local Government Area, Mr Fabian Okwajie, former media aide to Prof. Sandy Onor, the PDP Governorship candidate in the 2023 general election, Ms. Phylo Odu, and thousands of their supporters.
Ochinke defected in Wula while Okwajie defected in Buanchor in Boki LGA last weekend with thousands of their followers.
The member representing Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency, Hon Victor Abang, otherwise known as Mature, the Executive Chairman of Boki LGA, Hon. Beatrice Nyiam, the Member representing Boki I State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Bette Obi, APC Chapter Chairman of Boki, Engr. Kelvin Njong and other APC chieftains were on ground to receive the defectors.
In his speech, the former PDP Chapter Chairman, Mr Okwajie, said; “today marks a significant milestone in my political journey as I formally and officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). The process of my defection commenced at my polling unit in Buanchor Community, Boki Local Government Area, where I was warmly received by party faithful and grassroots supporters.
“The symbolic move was later amplified when I was joined by my mentor and leader, Barr. Attah Ochinke, as we were both officially welcomed into the fold by the leadership of the APC in Boki LGA”.
He said, “this move signifies not just a change in party affiliation, but a renewed commitment to participatory governance, community development, and progressive leadership under the platform of the APC. I look forward to working collaboratively with my new political family to advance the cause of our people and contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of Boki and Cross River State at large”.
In the gale of defections rocking the PDP in the state, a prominent political heavyweight in Ikom Urban Ward 1, had recently dumped the PDP to the APC with thousands of his followers.
The heavy weight is the former PDP House of Assembly aspirant in the 2023 general election, Mr Leonard Okimsama, popularly known as Cocoa Caterpillar.
Pillar Today gathered that this defection may be a forerunner for the original caterpillar, Prof. Onor and others in Etung, Boki, Abi, Obubra, Yakurr and Ikom to follow suit.
Similarly, in Southern Senatorial District of the state, the 2023 Deputy Governorship candidate of the PDP in the state, Dr Emana Duke Ambroose-Amawhe, also dumped the PDP with her supporters in the state for APC.
This state of lethargy since the 2023 general elections has seen the PDP lost over 70 percent of its members in the state to the APC.
The defection topsy-turvy has put the party in disarray as there seems to be no clear cut leaders and followers in a party that reigned supreme between 1999 and 2021.
The immediate past Governor of the State, Senator Ben Ayade had dumped the PDP on May 20, 2021, and in December 16, 2021, when some political heavyweights of the PDP like the former Deputy Speaker State House of Assembly, Otuekong Orok Duke, former Commissioner for Local Governments, Barr. Edem Ekong, former Commissioner for Lands, Arch Bassey Ndem, dumped the party for APC, he proclaimed the PDP dead.
Ayade declared, “the array of political juggernauts joining us in APC today were the men who made PDP thick. Today, they have joined us in APC, so where is the PDP in Cross River? The party is dead”.
Today it seems the proclamation of Ayade over three years ago, is coming to pass as the PDP Secretariats in Calabar and most of the Local Government Areas look abandoned and dissolute.
One member in Calabar, Hary Effiong said, “PDP is dead and buried. The party died a natural death since the 2023 elections. As you can see we don’t have a leader. No one is in charge giving direction. Instead we are hearing decamping upon decamping cutting across Southern, Central and Northern Senatorial Districts of the state.
“This is a shame. We suppose to function as a strong opposition to the ruling party but the reverse is the case. Our leaders are quiet or in dispute with one another. We should learn from other climes, when a party is not in power such party maintains a strong opposition putting the government in power on its toes rather than staying aloof or jumping here and there in the name of defection”.
The crisis in the Cross River State chapter of the PDP is not helping matters as some aggrieved members are still at daggers drawn with the State Chairman, Barr. Venatius Ikem.
It is obvious that the ghost of the face off between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike and former Vice President, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku before and after the 2023 presidential elections which factionalized the party from top to bottom is still hovering.
