SAN FRANCISCO, April 29, (THEWILL) – Following the crushing defeat of the candidates he promoted for his party’s executive positions in wards and local government areas in Cross River State, Governor Ben Ayade of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is seriously weighing his long speculated defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The National Headquarters of the party nailed Ayade with the approved names of new Executive Committee members in the 196 wards and 18 local governments in the state. The list was released on April 26, 2020. Sources in the party in the state said Ayade was soundly defeated because majority of those he backed lost out.
The party sent a letter with reference number, PDP/DOM/GF.V/VOL 2/20-387B, addressed to Edim Inok Edim, state party chairman and signed by Austin Akobundu, National Organising Secretary of the PDP, with a copy sent to the governor, advising him that this is the “the authentic list for the 196 wards and 18 LGAs.”
Some disappointed political aides of the governor told THEWILL that the controversial governor is set to leave the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, after the humiliating defeat in the hands of grassroot leaders of the party with whom he has waged a bitter fight after helping him emerge as governor.
THEWILL had previously named Ayade as one of the governors of the main opposition PDP that had perfected plans to ditch the party for the APC before the last general elections. The governor has maintained robust relations with the ruling party.
