A former Acting Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Larry Odey, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.
Odey, who was also the Speaker of the state House of Assembly until June 2015, defected alongside a former deputy state chairman of the PDP, Mr. Fidelis Egoro.
The duo defected with about 5,000 supporters on Sunday at the Government Primary School in Okuku, Yala Local Government Area. They were received by the state APC chairman, Mr. John Ochala.
The event attracted the Senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial District, John Owan-Enoh; a member of the APC Board of Trustees, Wabilly Nyiam; a former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Paul Adah, and other party chiefs.
Ochala described the move as a big boost to the party in the northern senatorial district, adding that the APC was ready to defeat the PDP in the 2019 general elections in the state.
Ochala said, “This is a big boost to us in the northern senatorial district and we are more than ever ready to take over the centre stage in the 2019 general elections in Cross River.”
In his comment, Nyiam urged the defectors to adhere to the APC constitution, adding that it was the constitution that made the APC a unique party.
“You all must adhere to the APC constitution as this is the practice that has made the APC different and enviable for others to join. We cannot sacrifice the constitution for any member, but we can lose any member to protect the constitution,” he said.
Senator Owan-Enoh said the APC would work to prevent the return of Governor Ben Ayade as governor in 2019.
“We cannot afford to have Governor Ben Ayade beyond 2019 in the Government House; everyone should get registered and prepare to vote the governor out of office in the next election,” he said.