In a significant blow to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), a stalwart, Francis Effiom, and numerous supporters have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Calabar Municipal Local Government Area of Cross River State.
_Governor Otu’s Appeal_
According to Bernard Iso, Ward-8 Chairman and one of the defectors, their decision was driven by Governor Bassey Otu’s impressive performance. “This decision is predicated on what is so obvious. The governor of Cross River State Prince Bassey Otu has shown capacity and willingness to touch the lives of the people.”
_Road Infrastructure Development_
Iso highlighted Governor Otu’s achievements, citing the rehabilitation of two major roads in his ward, Ward 8, Ikot Ansa. “Within the first year that Senator Bassey Otu became governor, he fixed the road leading to the highway through zone 6 to the NPC depot… and the Ndidem Usang Iso Bolivat road.” He also praised the governor for completing the long-abandoned Asim Itah Street community road.
_Call to Remaining PDP Supporters_
Effiom urged hesitant supporters to follow suit, emphasizing that the entire PDP ward structure had defected to the APC. “If we who are the pillars of the PDP… have moved today into the APC, every other person should just flow inside.”
_APC Welcomes Defectors_
The defectors enthusiastically sang solidarity songs, waved brooms, and chanted APC slogans, pledging loyalty to their new party. This mass defection mirrors recent trends, such as the 27 Rivers State PDP lawmakers who defected to the APC, perceived as loyalists of former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike ¹.
