Former Two-Term PDP Assembly Member, Effa Esua, Defects To APC, Says Otu Delivering On Campaign Promises
By Ndifon JOSEPH
In a surprising turn of events, former two-term People Democratic Party (PDP) member of the Cross River State House of Assembly (CRSHA), Rt Hon. Effa Esua, officially defects to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Esua, who served as Leader of the House in his second term, resigned officially from PDP at his ward 3 a few months back and was received by APC supporters and the leadership at a defection rally on April 1, 2024, at Ediba ground, Calabar Municipal, Cross River State.
His defection marks a notable shift in the political landscape in the politics of Calabar Municipal and its environs.
The former lawmaker cited the desire to heed the call of the governorship candidate of PDP, Sen. Prof. Sandy Onor, and that of his constituents to support the governor in the interest of the state, as his reasons for joining the ruling party.
He said: "I was with Prof. Sandy Onor, of the PDP as you know, and the matter went up to the Supreme Court, and he (Sandy) wrote and congratulated Otu and urged us to support the governor of the state, Senator Bassey Edet Otu.
"Also, some of my people felt that it was time we moved to see how we can be useful to our people. The governor is somebody I had known while we were all in the same party, the PDP at the time. It's a matter of reuniting with some of my old friends."
On what he has to offer to the ruling part, he said: "What I would take to the party is integrity. I don't know how to backstab, I didn't abandon the PDP when I was needed. So, nobody can accuse me of abandoning my party neither can you accuse me of having supported somebody and backstabbed, No! I don't do that.
"When I believe in a course, I fight it to the end. I stood with Prof. Sandy, and there's no doubt about that, from when he won the PDP Primaries to the state level, when God decided otherwise. Life goes on and people must move on. There's going to be this movement from party to party," he said.
On the way forward and the expectations that lies ahead, he said: "If Prof. Sandy had won the election, the ultimate aim would have been that of development. Now that it's the turn of Senator Otu, whatever little contribution we have is also needed on the table for the state to move forward.
"The Governor has started doing well in the area of roads' rehabilitation that were abandoned. Things are beginning to be okay. So, we hope that all hands must be on deck and with God he will be able to do better."
He however, expressed gratitude to the PDP for the opportunities it afforded him, and by adhering to established protocols and procedures, promising to continue to uphold the integrity of the political process and respect for both his former party and the party he is joining.
