CRS 2023: Crisis rocks PDP as hundreds joins APC in Odukpani LGA

Emmanuel Alfred

There is fresh trouble for the People’s Democratic Party, PDP as no fewer than 200 people have dumped the Party for the All Progressives Congress, APC in Eki Ward in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State.

According to APC Ward Secretary, Mr. Okon Dominic, the people contacted him and other Exco Members of the Party to pour out their disaffection and focus-less state of the PDP at both the State, Chapter and Ward levels which prompted the need to slide into the Progressives fold.

The event held at Ekpene Eki, Eki Ancestral Clan, Odukpani LGA, was witnessed by the State Assistant Welfare, Elder Bassey Ayi, represented by Mr. Okon Okon, former House of Representatives aspirant for Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency, Prince Edwin Okon (ACA, ACIB) duely represented by Ekpo Victor, Chapter and Ward Exco Members and other Members of the APC with the event culminating in the issuance of APC membership cards to the new members.

Mr. Okon Joseph, a former stakeholder of PDP in Odukpani, who spoke on behalf of other defectors from the PDP, said their decision was informed by the unification and oneness brought by the former House of Representatives aspirant, Prince Edwin Okon, who is also in the forefront of giving APC victory in the State and Eki Ward in particular.

The defectors also cited the inability of the People’s Democratic Party to toe the path of justice and equity in regards to the Governorship ticket saying that it will be unjust for anybody to truncate the rotational and equitable power arrangement in the State for any reason.

Welcoming the new APC members, Mr. Butman Ekpo, who spoke on behalf of the Ward Exco and Prince Edwin Okon, described the development and the turnout at the occasion as an unprecedented “lockdown” of Eki Ward for the APC, a rarity in the political history of the Ward.

“We have seen now that Eki is totally for the All Progressives Congress. APC is a party built on justice, equity and progress. You all are from this day bonafide members of APC, we shall work in unity to secure victory for our presidential, gubernatorial, national assembly and every other candidate. Prince Edwin Okon and other leaders of the party are glad to have you with us.”

Notable defectors include; Etim Pius, Michael Ndowong, Effiong Okon, Peter Stephen, Isaac Ekong and hundreds of others.