Mass defection looms in Cross River North as PDP stakeholders set to join APC

A wave of mass defection is looming in the Cross River North Senatorial District as key stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have indicated interest in joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in solidarity with the senator representing the district, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe.

The stakeholders made their intentions known during a meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday with Senator Jarigbe, the Cross River State PDP Chairman, Venatius Ikem, and other prominent members of the party.

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In a statement signed on Wednesday by the senator’s Special Adviser on Media, John Agom Agom, notable personalities who attended the meeting included Hon. Godwin Offiono, member representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives; Chief Austin Edibe, former Secretary to the State Government; Prof. Tom Ogar, Mike Aniah, Dr. DornKlamz Enamhe, Dr. Paul Ibiala, and Hon. Peter Ignodor, among several other party stalwarts.

According to the statement, the stakeholders pledged their support for the administration of Governor Bassey Otu and President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that they intend to formally join the APC alongside Senator Jarigbe.

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The senator described the anticipated defection as a strategic realignment that will give Cross River North a stronger voice in both state and national politics.

Recall that Senator Jarigbe recently met with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, where he formally notified the president of his defection to the APC. He later visited the Cross River State APC Chairman, Alphonsus Ogar Eba, to reaffirm his readiness to work with the party’s leadership to strengthen its structure in the northern senatorial district.

The statement further revealed that the Abuja meeting was a strategic session convened by Senator Jarigbe to review the political landscape of the district and chart a new direction for its development.

While addressing the stakeholders, the senator explained that his decision to move to the APC was motivated by his desire to support President Tinubu’s efforts to reposition the country for greater progress. He urged other political leaders from the district to join him in this mission.

He expressed optimism that the mass defection of his supporters would significantly reshape the political equation in Cross River North ahead of the next election cycle.

“My people should be assured that defecting to the ruling party will not stop me from empowering the constituents and embarking on people-oriented projects to alleviate the sufferings of the zone. I must also assure all the stakeholders that our regular consultations will not stop. There are better days ahead,” Senator Jarigbe stated.

Also speaking, the Cross River State PDP Chairman, Venatius Ikem, commended Senator Jarigbe for his bold political move, pledging to brief the State Executive Committee for further consultations on the next line of action.

“In a united front, the stakeholders pledged their support for Governor Otu’s administration and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. They further disclosed their intention to officially join the APC alongside Senator Jarigbe after wider consultations, describing the anticipated mass defection as a strategic realignment to give Cross River North a stronger voice in both state and national politics,” the statement added.

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