The mass exodus of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State continued at the weekend when the Assistant Secretary of the party, Mr. Sunday Omang, led  over 1, 000 supporters to defect to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) during Governor Ben Ayade’s campaign rally in Bekwarra Local Government Area of the state.

Until his defection, Omang was also a member of the President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation in the state.

Addressing thousands of cheering PDP supporters at the rally, the erstwhile APC scribe, flanked by his co-defectors, said no sensible Cross Riverian would remain in the APC after seeing governor Ayade’s massive industrialisation drive and infrastructural development of the state just within three and half years in office.

Omang said: “My decision to join the PDP was never influenced in anyway by anybody. Rather, I took the decision alongside my supporters to join PDP because of the good works governor Ayade is doing to transform Cross River.

“We are very impressed with development under Ayade, hence, our decision to join the  PDP train in support of our northern brother; to move the state forward. And, l want to assure you that we will work for your victory and we appeal, we should be fully integrated and accepted in the party.”

Also at the rally, the northern zone of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) declared their unalloyed support for the governor in his re-election bid.

They predicated their support for Ayade on his achievements, including the ongoing dualisation of the 147 kilometre Mfom-Okuku-Obudu dual carriage highway which cuts across the five local government areas of the north.

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The governor was also adopted by the 50, 000 member-strong Okada Riders Association in Bekwarra; who pledged their total support.

In his response, governor Ayade said his government has already acquired machines to set up groundnut shelling factories in four locations of the local government.

He also announced plans by his administration to set up a vegetable oil factory in Bekwarra.

Ayade also told the cheering crowd that Bekwarra will be the biggest beneficiary of the ongoing 270 kilometers super highway when it is completed; linking Cross River state with the northern part of the county.

Earlier, the governor was overwhelmingly endorsed by the paramount ruler, clan heads and all the chiefs of Bekwarra.

The paramount ruler, , Linus Ogbeche Odey, informed the governor that Bekwarra has over 70, 000 voting strength, and assured  the governor that 100 percent of the votes would be cast for him.

He thanked the Governor for the several appointment given to Bekwarra sons and daughters.