Party says defectors no longer welcome in its affairs
By Rafiyat Sadiq
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State has declared that former Governor Liyel Imoke, Senator Gershom Bassey, and other chieftains who recently aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are no longer members of the PDP.
The party made its position known following Thursday’s coalition meeting in Calabar, where Imoke led hundreds of his supporters to an inaugural gathering under the ADC platform. During the meeting, participants unanimously adopted a motion to move the coalition into the ADC.
Imoke, who led the meeting, said the coalition aims to nurture a new generation of political leaders to take over power in the state.
Reacting to the development, Cross River PDP Chairman Venatius Ikem said the party would not accommodate individuals who no longer share its ideals.
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“We can’t tolerate members who are working against the party’s interests,” Ikem told journalists. “Those who have defected to the ADC have shown where their loyalties lie, and we won’t hesitate to slam the door on them.”
Ikem criticised the defectors, describing them as politicians who had gained the most from the PDP but chose to walk away after recent electoral setbacks.
He also echoed President Bola Tinubu’s earlier comment referring to ADC leaders as “internally displaced politicians.”
“They are acting out of political desperation,” he said, while reaffirming the PDP’s grassroots strength, especially in the northern senatorial zone. “We are not losing sleep. The PDP remains the most organized and widely accepted political structure in Cross River.”
Political observers say the latest realignments could reshape the build-up to the next elections, with party loyalty and internal unity likely to play a key role in determining outcomes across the state.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
