C'River: PDP loses top Chieftain to APC As Defected Legislators, Achadu, Omang, Abang Set For Return
Ndifereke BASSEY
The gale of defection in Cross River state has continued to gather momentum as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) losses a top chieftain, Mr Asuquo Ekpo Ada, to the state's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
This is coming amid speculations that three lawmakers from the opposition party including Hon. Martin Achadu (Yala 2), Hon. Omang Charles Omang (Bekwarra) and Samuel Abang Ikom 1, who defect to the ruling APC, are set to return to PDP over alleged marginalisation at the just-concluded APC local government election primaries.
The trio of Achadu, Charles and Abang had defected on Friday, September 27 and Sunday, September 29, 2024, at their respective state constituencies with Hon. Ashakia Pius Ashakia (Obanliku) remaining the only PDP lawmaker in the 25- man Assembly.
However barley a month after the law makers' defection, Ada, who was a campaign Director General to one of the PDP governorship aspirants, Sen. Gershom Bassey, in the 2023 primary elections, had earlier announced his resignation from the PDP through a letter addressed to the Eniong ward chairman of the party and dated October 23.
In the terse letter, Ada said: "I find conviction finally to resolve in favour of my embattled decision to resign membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, as situations have so demanded.
"It's indeed a fact that “change” remains a constant situation that affects life situations, when nature directs changes to life narratives.
"I have no choice than to wish the party well while I dedicate my further political sojourn to the Almighty God's directive."
Ada had been an ally of Gershom Bassey, the 2023 governorship aspirant of the PDP and a former Senator who represented Cross River South at the National Assembly between 2015 and 2023.
The former Senator was a founding member of the PDP in Cross River.
Meanwhile, speculations are rife that the defected PDP law makers including Hon. Martin Achadu (Yala 2), Hon. Omang Charles Omang (Bekwarra) and Samuel Abang Ikom 1, may return to PDP following inability of APC to provide a level-playing ground for them during the just-concluded APC local government 'consensus' primary elections.
The trio are said to have reached an agreement with the leadership of APC for a soft landing ahead of 2027.
But THE BEAGLES NEWS gathered authouritatively that the trio are piqued that they were not given an opportunity to make inputs on who becomes the next local government chairmen and councilors in their respective constituencies, thereby endangering their future in the new party with regard to their second term tickets to the House of Assembly.
It was also gathered that the law makers, untill the time of going to the press, are yet to declare their defections to APC officially on the floor of the House, fearing litigation from PDP and possible moves for their recall by their various constituents.
This ugly development has unsettled the lawmakers, fueling speculations of their plan to return to PDP where they are assured of tickets.
Some of their close aides and associates confided in THE BEAGLE NEWS that the trio are still consulting and may finally dump APC if there are no concrete assurances of their political survival ahead of 2027.
One of the lawmakers told a close confidant that they are still watching events as they unfold , adding "we may return to our original party if APC cannot fulfil its promise to us. I can't understand the type of primaries they conducted a few days back.
"What transpired at Hoggis Hotels on October 14, 2024, the venue of APC 'consensus' primaries, has not happened in the history of party politics in the state.
"With this, it means nobody in the House of Assembly is safe and sure of return ticket. The Governor has used the local government primaries to set the tone for subsequent elections within the party.
"So, one has better return to where he is assured of the ticket and then go to the general elections and slug it out."
