A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Cross River State, Mr. John Upan Odey, has described the defection of the governor, Prof Ben Ayade, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a good sign for the state.

Odey, a former governorship aspirant of the APC, who lent his huge political frame in support of the governor, said Ayade was welcome to the party.

He aspired to govern the state during the 2019 general elections.

Making his stance known through a press statement made available to journalists on Friday, Odey said Governor Ayade has all along demonstrated that he is a natural progressive.

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He said the governor has only returned to his natural political habitat of progressives by joining the APC.

Odey, a financial expert with many years of experience in the banking industry before venturing into politics, described Governor Ayade’s defection as a political masterstroke.

He said the governor has not only brought the APC and progressives to power in the state, but has also liberated the state’s political space from the stranglehold of undemocratic forces.

Congratulating the governor, he said, “Tomorrow has indeed come and by the cross-over of His Excellency Prof. Ben Ayade to the All Progressives Congress, APC, our party is the party in power. I wish to welcome our Governor to the APC and congratulate him and others who will come to the big tent coalition, APC.

“Our Governor has displayed the mind of the progressive in many things he has conceived and executed, and I believe he will now build upon those initial developments.”

The APC chieftain who was also the House of Representatives candidate of Obudu/Obanliku/Bekwara Federal Constituency on the platform of the defunct, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in 2011 urged more support from members of the party and the people of the state for the Governor Ben Ayade led administration.

He said this is so that it can complete the developmental projects and programmes it is currently handling.

Odey urged the governor to carry all members of the APC along as leader of the party in the state.

He said, “Politics is about consensus building and as His Excellency takes the lead in our party, we urge him to consult and work with all interests in the APC, Cross River State Chapter, to achieve a landmark success in the rest of his term and in the forthcoming 2023 General Elections. God bless Our Governor! God bless the good people of Cross River State!! God bless Nigeria!!!”