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PDP Moves to Prevent Cross River Governor's Defection as Party Stakeholders Threaten to Switch to APC

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Cross River State Governor Prof. Ben Ayade's planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has sparked a crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as party stakeholders threaten to switch allegiances if the party fails to conduct a fresh state congress. The National Working Committee (NWC) has mobilized Governors Aminu Tambuwal and Godwin Obaseki, along with the party's reconciliation committee headed by Dr. Bukola Saraki, to persuade Ayade to rethink his plans. Meanwhile, 18 elected local government chairmen and 196 councillors in the state have threatened to defect to the APC if their demands for a fresh state congress are not met.

Key Takeaways:

  • 18 elected local government chairmen and 196 councillors in Cross River State have threatened to defect to the APC if their demands for a fresh state congress are not met.
  • The National Working Committee (NWC) has mobilized Governors Aminu Tambuwal and Godwin Obaseki, along with the party's reconciliation committee headed by Dr. Bukola Saraki, to persuade Governor Ayade to rethink his plans.
  • The GOC riders to the Governor to return control of the party structures which were taken over by a faction in the last congress.
  • The party's deputy national secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, was presented with a petition by the delegation of local government chairmen and councillors.
  • The petition called for the immediate conduct of transparent congresses at all levels in the state.
  • The governor's loss of control of party structures is attributed to the faction that sponsored Hon. Agoms Jarigbe in the senatorial primary.
  • The faction loyal to the governor, led by Senator Steve Odeh, had a deal with Ayade to return to the Senate after switching from the APC.

Statistics:

  • 18 local government councils in Cross River State are threatened to defect to the APC.
  • 196 councillors in the state are part of the delegation that met with the NWC.
  • 18% of party structures at all levels in the state have been taken over by the faction loyal to the governor.
  • The party has a 95% control of local councils, House of Assembly members, commissioners, and National Assembly members in the state.
  • The state has two senior party members in the National Assembly except Sen. Steve Odeh.

Sources:

  • THISDAY
  • Copyright 2021 This Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
  • The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

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