BREAKING.... DEFECTION: Rep Akiba Set To Dump LP For APC in Cross River State

By Ndifereke BASSEY

Baring any last minute change of mind, Hon. Bassey Akiba, representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani federal constituency, has concluded arrangements to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Akiba, the former Odukpani  local government chairman in Cross River state, won the February 26, 2023 National Assembly election in the platform of Labour Party (LP) and is the only LP elected member in the state.

However, since the emergence of Governor Bassey Otu, who hails form the same Odukpani local government with Akiba, the Rep has been discreetly romancing with the ruling APC leadership in the state even as top shots of the party have made series of overtures to the him assuring him of return ticket if he joins the ruling party.

And fearing that opposition may not survive in an APC-dominated federal constituency, Akiba is said to have tacitly entered into agreement to dump LP to secure his future political ambition.

Source close to Akiba disclosed to THE BEAGLE NEWS that a deal to defect to APC was sealed a few weeks back between Akiba and Governor Otu and Akiba would have moved over shortly after the Saturday, November 2, 2024 local government elections.

The source said the defection is being delayed because Akiba is waiting for the Governor to come back from his Abuja trip as they have agreed that the Rep should be officially received into his new party by "Oga."

Again, another source said the crisis in LP leadership is one of the reasons Akiba wants to leave for the ruling APC and is expected to move with thousands of supporters.