The development comes barely a week after Senator Jarigbe, representing Cross River North, officially visited President Bola Tinubu at Aso Rock Villa to announce his defection to the APC.

Following that visit, the lawmaker also met with the APC State Chairman, Alphonsus Eba, in Calabar, where he pledged his readiness to work with the party leadership to consolidate the APC’s presence in the northern district.

A statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media, John Agom, further revealed that Jarigbe convened a high-level meeting with influential PDP figures from the zone to review the region’s political direction on Tuesday at Rockview Hotel in Abuja.

The move, political observers believe, could dramatically reshape Cross River’s political landscape ahead of the next election cycle.

“Discussions at the meeting centred on aligning with what participants described as the progressive direction of the state under Governor Bassey Otu and the reform-driven agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the statement read.

Addressing the gathering, the senator explained that his defection was motivated by a desire to contribute meaningfully to President Tinubu’s reform efforts.

“My people should be assured that defecting to the ruling party will not stop me from empowering the constituents and embarking on people-oriented projects to alleviate the sufferings of the zone,” he said.

“I must also assure all the stakeholders that our regular consultations will not stop. There are better days ahead.”

Reacting, Cross River PDP Chairman, Venatius Ikem, commended the senator’s courage and promised to consult the party’s state executive on the next steps.

“In a united front, the stakeholders pledged their support for Governor Otu’s administration and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” the statement added.

“They further disclosed their intention to officially join the APC alongside Senator Jarigbe after wider consultations, describing the anticipated mass defection as a strategic realignment to give Cross River North a stronger voice in both state and national politics.”

Those present included the member representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, Hon. Godwin Offiono; former Secretary to the State Government, Chief Austin Edibe; Prof. Tom Ogar, Dr DornKlamz Enamhe, Dr Paul Ibiala, Hon. Peter Ignodor and several other party stalwarts.