After PDP NEC Member’s Defection, Hundreds Leave For APC Daily
3 min read
- PDP Chieftains Beg Defecting Election Warlord To Return
- C’River Dep Gov Excited
Some see it as a political tsunami, while many think with the defection of Chief Patrick Agbe, who was a member of the PDP NEC until last Friday, the opposition PDP may have lost its grip of the northern Cross River senatorial district.
During the2023 election, the PDP was able to record a triumphant outing only in that senatorial district. The only seat secured by the party in the senate came from the northern part of the state, while the APC devoured the southern and central senatorial districts.
Last Friday, Agbe, an ex-offcio member of the party representing the south-south in the party’s NEC and a major voice in the party both in the state and at the national level, decided to end his romance with the PDP, with the submission of his resignation letter to his chapter chairman.
Sources said as soon as the letter was received, emissaries were sent to Agbe to withdraw it and stay on in the party. This must have explained why the letter was kept away from the public.
TNN learnt that since last Friday, many stakeholders have reached out to Agbe, pleading with him to undo his decision. But some APC chieftains had got wind of the resignation and decided to announce it, even before the formal open reception for the politician believed to be an election warlord who has been behind PDP victories in his Mbube ward and in Yala Local Government.
For Odey, Agbe is a big fish and a great catch for the PDP. TNN has learnt that hundreds of Agbe’s loyalists are now defecting on a daily basis. In fact, it was learnt that a register has been opened both in Mbube and in Calabar where all his followers go to register to join the APC, ahead of the ceremony where the PDP chieftain would be received.
Agbe has been in forefront in the battle to rescue the PDP from the hands of those he accused of plotting to kill the party. He recently told TNN in an interview that there was a deliberate attempt by some people loyal to a former governor of Rivers State to destroy the PDP.
He was among those who worked against the defecting 27 lawmakers loyal to the former governor , as they tried to return to the PDP through the back door, after their open defection and after swearing to an affidavit that they had left the PDP.
While a date is yet to be fixed to receive Agbe and all his followers, the deputy governor has officially welcomed Agbe to the APC. Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Council, Christopher Agbeh, who stood in for the deputy governor assured the defectors that they would enjoy equal rights within the APC.
In his welcome address, the APC Ward Chairman of Mbube West Ward 1, Mr. Jonas Patrick Achong, expressed relief, stating that the political challenges in his ward were over with Chief Agbe’s defection. He assured that the APC would enjoy peace and unity during future electioneering activities.
Chapter Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Paul Adinye, also conveyed his joy over the defection. He praised the deputy governor for successfully convincing a high-ranking member of an opposition party to join the APC, describing the move as a boost in experience that would yield positive results in upcoming elections.
The State Chairman of the APC, Barr. Alphonsus Ogar Eba, who was represented by the Vice Chairman North, Hon. Emmanuel Ateb, while receiving the defectors, expressed gratitude for the new additions, describing their registration as APC members as an exciting development for the party.
Agbe himself has said he was not ready to speak on his defection for now, but that he would address the world very soon, to talk about the mess in the PDP and how the APC would henceforth rule and reign in the northern part of the state.
Among those present were the Head of Personal Staff to the Deputy Governor, Dr. Chris Ojikpong; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Rice Value Chains, Mr. Emmanuel Anoh; the Managing Director of the Cross River State Water Board, High Chief Godwin Nyiam (Ph.D.) and the State Organizing Secretary of APC, Mr. Joe Isaji, among others.
