Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has said he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) in other to build a better Nigeria.
The Governor announced his defection to the APC on Thursday morning during a meeting with six APC governors who visited him at the Government House in Calabar.
The APC governors were led by Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, who is also the National Caretaker Committee chairman of the APC. Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodima; Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi State; Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva were also present at the meeting.
Others at the meeting are; Cross River deputy governor, Prof Ivara Esu; Speaker, Cross River House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eteng Williams Jones and some members of the State House of Assembly.
Explaining, Ayade attributed his move to the character of President Muhammadu Buhari. Speaking further, he stated that he joined the ruling APC to join hands with the President who is committed to building a prosperous Nigeria.
In his words, “Having seen and known the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and his commitment to this country, his nationalistic disposition and all the efforts he has made to bring Nigeria to where we are today, it is obvious that at this point, we needed to join hands with him to build a Nigeria that we can be proud of, he said.
“We need all governors to recognize that it is not party that matters. It is character, it is honour, it is commitment to the vision of this great nation.
“We all need to as a team, work ahead of the president by working towards building a prosperous country that the succession worries of 2023 will come without the fears and the worries the international community has for us.
In his remarks, Buni, who led the party’s delegation to welcome the Governor officially to the ruling party declared Ayade as the leader of the APC’s chapter of Cross River.
In his words, “I am here on behalf of the APC family to welcome His Excellency the Executive Governor of Cross River State formally to the APC.
“As from today, he is the leader of the party in the state,” Buni said.
