From Judex Okoro, Calabar

A chieftain of Cross River All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Samuel Bassey, and hundreds of supporters have dumped the party for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), alleging marginalisation by their brothers in the southern senatorial district.

Chief Bassey, a former founding member of PDP and legacy member of APC as well as one-time House of Representatives and senatorial aspirant, said he left APC to protest against the injustice meted out to the people of Baise and Akamkpa federal constituency where he comes from.

Speaking in Calabar shortly after being received by Biase PDP chapter and Ikum/Etono ward executives, Bassey said the defection became imperative because his Efik southern brothers who are the majority, have since 1999 dominated the political positions, especially with regard to governorship and senatorial slots not minding the zoning formula.

“I have worked very hard for many people. At this point in time, those of us from Biase and Akampka axis within the southern senatorial district have not been treated fairly because when the governorship or senatorial comes to the southern senatorial district, our Efik brothers take it.

“At a glance, you see that former Governor Donald Duke, Senators Florence Ita-Giwa, Bassey Ewa, Bassey Otu and Geshom Bassey are from the Efik nation just as the next one that is to come is also an Efik. Even now, in our party PDP.

“So having weighed all my options, that the incoming governor of Cross River state, Sen. Sandy Onor, would strengthen all that have gone wrong in Cross River state today. I believe that he will make a good governor and he will also run Cross River state in very fair manner and ensure that justice is done.

Related News

“Based on this, I and hundreds of my supporters have decided to return to PDP so we can join hands with all other party members at the ward, chapter, state and national levels to ensure that PDP installs a government in Cross River State come May 29, 2023.

“I had resigned my membership of the All Progressives Congress précises on the 9th of November. I communicated the same to ward chairman of my ward and he acknowledged receipt and sent to my friend, his excellency, the incoming governor and others. So I have seized being a member of the APC, now and because there is no vacuum.

“I am a core politician and I know the powers of the party. I will in no way do anything that will jeopardize the successes of the party at the poll as we go in next year. I will work based on my ability to ensure that the party candidates win at all levels and I know that I have a lot to offer as far as this game called politics is concerned,” Bassey assured the party.

While welcoming him to the party, the PDP Biase Local government chapter and Ikum/Etono ward chairmen, Messers Oyube Sunday and Kanu Ogban respectively, commended Chief Bassey for taking a bold step.

They implored him to work for the good of the party in the coming general elections that would usher in democratic governance in the state.

Speaking also, a chieftain of the PDP, Elder Chief Ogan Ebock, appealed to members to do away with bad feelings towards anyone who decided to join the party but rather welcome them with open hands.

Ebock said, “I have kept preaching that the 2023 election is not going to be like the ones we had after 1999. The ones we have seen are more of an arrangement, if you are in the winning party, you are sure of winning whether people come to vote or not, you will win but this time votes will count. So, the easiest way to get success is if you can get everybody to be on your side whether the strong, mighty and the weak ones.”