Ahead of 2023 general elections, Cross Rivers Governor, Ben Ayade, has abandoned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Explaining the rationale behind his decision, the governor noted that the move was to position the state and align it with the government at the central following the state’s dwindling economic fortune.
Ayade made the disclosure in a meeting with seven APC governors led by the party’s interim chairman and governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, who visited him at the Government House in Calabar on Thursday morning.
The governor noted his defection would further help his aspiration and determination to bequeath better legacy to future generations through the country’s development.
According to him, having seen and known the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and his commitment to this country, his nationalistic disposition, and all the efforts he has made to bring Nigeria to where we are today, it is obvious that at this point we needed to join hands with him to build a Nigeria that we can be proud of.
“We need all governors to recognize that it is not the party that matters. It is a character, it is an honour, it is a commitment to the vision of this great nation.
“We all need to as teamwork ahead of the president by working towards building a prosperous country that the succession worries of 2023 will come without the fears and the worries the international community has for us.
“I believe that if every one of us as governor joins hands with Mr President, I think we can sit on the same dining table and fashion out a way to govern this country.”
Speaking on the development, Buni said he, alongside his team were in the state to formally welcome Ayade to the APC.
“I am here on behalf of the APC family to welcome His Excellency the Executive Governor of Cross River State formally to the APC. As of today, he is the leader of the party in the state,” Buni said.
Other APC governors who witnessed the event were Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Solomon Lalong of Plateau State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, and his Jigawa State counterpart, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, among others.
