Gov Ayade’s defection forces PDP into closed-door meeting in Abuja

Against the backdrop of the sudden defection of Governor Ben Ayade of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday, the PDP is now in the tick of a close-door meeting at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

The details of the meeting is however still sketchy as at press time.

It would be recalled that Gov. Ayade announced his defection from the PDP at the Governor’s office in Calabar, Cross River State, after a meeting with seven APC governors led by the acting Chairman and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni.

Ayada said that the ceding of the oil wells of Cross River State, a development that has adversely impacted the economy of the state and the need to align with the ruling party informed his decision to dump the PDP.

He also said that having seen and known the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Muhammadu Buhari) and his commitment to this country, his nationalistic disposition and all the efforts he has made to bring Nigeria to where we are today, it is obvious that at this point we needed to join hands with him to build a Nigeria that we can be proud of.

Although the media had long speculated about Gov. Ayade’s possible defection from the PDP given his loss of the party structure and rumoured dalliance with the APC, his many denials put the PDP on the back foot.

In a face saving reaction however, the PDP immediately called for the emergency meeting to deliberate on the latest development especially as it affects its chances in the 2023 Presidential Elections.

The full details of the meeting remain shrouded in mystery as at the time of this report.