By Kingston Princewill/Magnus Effiong
The gale of defections hitting the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP) and others in Cross River State would in no wise rattle the once biggest political party in Africa, PDP officials have said.
Recall that high profile personalities and huge number of PDP members, including its former deputy governorship candidate, Emana Duke Ambrose Amawhe and Chief Agbe Patrick, a member of the PDP’s National Executive Council had dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC) penultimate week.
Expressing strong disapproval of the defections, the State Financial Secretary of the party, Hon Chris Edadi, said the driving force behind the defections was personal interest, enhanced by empty promises of utopia by the ruling APC.
In a telephone chat with our reporter, Hon Edadi said the APC itself is at risk of loosing members because of its awful performance particularly at the national level.
“The APC is at risk. This is because any opening of a stronger move of opposition will spell doom for the party, and let no elected office holder think it’s over. This is because what is coming will consume the illicit and sponsored defections and undue endorsement of the APC trending across the State at the moment.
“Obviously, you can only be celebrated the day you joined APC and after that day your eyes will definitely open to know that you are on your own and nobody cares.
“Unfortunately, I have it on record that 60percent of those who defected in Calabar about two weeks ago, are already regretting because what was discussed wasn’t fulfilled and some were even abandoned in Calabar. During that event, those who came from the north and central saw hell.
“With such experience, they are yet to be APC members in ernest. At the appropriate time, we shall recall our members. We are not afraid of the APC. PDP is still a party to beat in Cross River. We have said so already. Mobility is a character trait of all humans,” he submitted.
Also speaking, another stalwart from Bakassi, who gave his name simply as Inameti, said the defections were rather strengthening the opposition parties instead of making them weak.
His words: “This is a challenge to all PDP members and we are ready for it come 2027. Considering the failure of the broom to sweep misery, hardship and pervading hunger in the land away, we shall burn the broom and give our people the big umbrella to cover and shade them from APC rain of suffering.
“In the worst scenario, we shall align with other political parties like the Labour Party just as the APC did in 2014, to remove them from power and save our country from their evil broom clutches.”
However, the defections traffic are continuing. Apart from low level defections in wards and local government levels, a national Assembly member from the Northern senatorial is rumoured to be contemplating dumping the umbrella for the broom too.
While the State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, in a recent event attributed the trend to President Bola Tinubu’s performance and a growing desire for progressive governance, some of those who left PDP for APC said Otu’s big heart and performance was the reason they bidded bye to the PDP.
Interestingly, while PDP members are moving to the ruling APC, some members of the APC are finding solace in the PDP.
Reports indicated that the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof Zana Akpagu and thousands of his supporters have moved to the PDP in a tit for that scenario.
Akpagu, a one time aspirant for the Cross River Northern senatorial district bye election, under the APC, is believed to be preparing for a grand rally for his official defection to the PDP
As 2027 gradually draws close, the two political parties would square it up in practical terms for as they say, the proof of pudding is in eating.
