Over 20,000 people yesterday defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adadama, Abi Local Government Area in Cross River State, home of the National Women Leader, Dr Betta Edu.
The massive defection was in solidarity with Edu’s unprecedented achievement and sterling performance since she emerged as the national women leader of the party.
The deputy governor of Cross River State Prof. Ivara Ejemot Esu, who represented the governor Sen Ben Ayade, state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barr. Alphonsus Eba and his deputy Prince Eka Williams, Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly and Senatorial Candidate of APC, Central Senatorial District, Rt. Hon. Eteng Jones Williams, Executive Chairman of Abi Local Government Council, Rt. Hon. Farathor Robinson and a host of other top government officials graced the occasion and joined Edu to receive and welcome the defectors to the party.
The state party chairman Barr. Alphonsus Eba charged the defectors to continue to work together with their leader to enjoy the dividends of democracy before handing them over to the Esu for the official welcoming.
He noted that God has blessed the state with a leader like Dr. Betta Edu and it can only be wrong and devilish if anyone refuses to work with her.
“Today she has the ears and attention of the Federal Government and this to you and the entire State is an added advantage. We accept you wholeheartedly to this progressive party on behalf of our digital governor Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade and we assure you that in our party we don’t have newcomers or old comers as we’re all one and equal. Dr. Betta Edu has today finally collapsed the structures of PDP in Abi LGA as I can’t see anyone left in PDP again.” Prof. Ivara stated.
On her part, the APC national woman leader Dr. Betta Edu assured the defectors of equal rights and privileges in the party.
“We’re a progressive party and as such, we treat everyone equally. For making this decision, let me reassure you my people that my empowerment programmes of free medical outreaches, renovation, and upgrading of health facilities, payment of school fees for our children, etc.
“We will continue to add value and do more. The registration fee for all our students eligible for WAEC has been paid and this and many more will continue.
“PDP is history, as I wish to urge us all to go get our PVCs and get ready to vote APC from top to bottom. Very soon campaigns will start and I trust in my people to deliver as we have done it before and we’ll do it again.” She added.
Other dignitaries who graced the event were the representative of the APC national chairman Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, Hon. Abdulazeez, Representative of the member representing Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency, chairman of Yakurr Local Government Area, Hon. Ofem Ebri Obeten, his Calabar Municipality and Southern counterparts, Hon. Effefiong Eke, and as well as the Paramount Ruler of Abi Local Government Area HRM Elder Ovai Solomon Edward, State Exco members of the APC, top government functionaries, Ward Exco members, party faithful, support groups, women, youths, etc.
Highpoints of the event was a homage visit to the palace of HRH Eval Nelson Agbomi, Lezelkpakor VI of Adadama Kingdom, free medical outreach, presentation of scholarship/school fees to Adadama students, cash donations to students, youths, women, traditional dancers, and thousands of relief materials were distributed.
