By ‘Dotun Akintomide
Governor Ben Ayade, one of three governors said to be nursing the plan to dump the Peoples Democratic Party PDP has dismissed any report linking him to joining the All Progressives Congress.
The Cross River governor stated that his relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari who was believed to have been courting the governor was framed on governance and not on politics.
The other two governors, reported to be mulling defection to APC are Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.
Governor Ayade in his response through his spokesman, Christian Ita said: “The governor is going nowhere. We have lived with this rumour from day one. The governor has said that there is a difference between governance and politics. Cross River is in the South-South but does not produce oil and we have so many projects that we have embarked on that require federal approval.
“How do you get the approval if you are not friendly with them? We are building a deep sea port and the super highway which both need federal approval. “It is about governance and it has nothing to do with politics and governance. He was even at the PDP NEC meeting yesterday.
“His relationship with President Buhari is based on governance not on politics.”
Meanwhile, the two other governors have kept mum on the speculation of defecting to the APC.
However, the planned defection by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio might be reaching an advancement stage as sources alleged high level pressure on the former governor of Akwa Ibom State by government institutions notably anti-corruption agencies.
Many political watchers are interpreting his quietness since the rumour broke out to mean an approval of several overtures made to him to quit the PDP.
