By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
Few days after the defection of the Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayede, from the People Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the State Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of APC in Cross River State, Sen. Mathew Mbu, has asked Nigerians to expect more heavyweight politicians, including senators, House of Representatives members, among others to join the party in the state soon.
Fielding questions from journàlists at the APC national Secretariat in Abuja yesterday, senator Mbu expressed optimism that the recent defection of Governor Ayade will open a floodgate of more defections of frontline politicians in the state, including members of the National Assembly.
He pointed out that on assumption of duty as the caretaker Committee chairman of APC in Cross River State in 2020, the party was witnessing numerous crises, hence his drive and promise which are yielding results, was unifying the party and also to work towards leading the party to win the state in the 2023 governorship election.
He said “When they gave me the position of Chairman in the state, the party was divided and needed a unifier. They asked me to unite them and to turn the state into an APC state.
“We started unifying the party and God went further to bless us with the defection of Governor Ben Ayade. In fact, our aim was to get the state in 2023 but to our pleasant surprise, it came earlier than we thought.”
On the reported case of some APC faithful not happy with the coming of the governor, the Chairman said contrary to that report, people were happy with his coming.
“I know that some people were not happy with his coming, but concerning the position of the lawmakers who have refused to follow him, everything will fall in line in due course.
“When I was made the chairman, somebody said the party will become an APC state but they did not believe him, but I tell you that APC has come to stay in Cross River State. In the state, everybody is happy”, he said.
The former Senator also said that APC has come to stay in Cross River State.
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