Ahead of 2027 general elections, influential stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have signaled plans to defect en masse to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in solidarity with Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe.
On October 22, 2025, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, representing Cross River North, had visited Aso Rock Villa to officially inform President Bola Tinubu of his defection to the ruling party.
Jarigbe followed it up with a visit to the APC State Chairman, Cross River, Chairman, Alphonsus Eba, Esq, also notifying him of his defection and readiness to work with the leadership to reposition the party in the northern senatorial district.
In a statement released Wednesday in Abuja, by the media office of Senator Jarigbe, signed by John Agom Agom,
Special Adviser on Media to Senator Jarigbe, said in continuation of his consultation, the Senator, on Tuesday convened a strategic meeting in Abuja with top PDP figures from the zone to review the political landscape and chart a new direction.
The move, if finalized, is expected to significantly alter the political equation in the northern senatorial zone ahead of the next election cycle.
The statement said: “Discussions at the meeting held at the Rockview Hotel, Abuja on Tuesday, centered 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.”
While addressing the PDP stakeholders at the meeting, Senator Jarigbe siad he moved over to the APC to assist President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in repositioning the country for greater heights.
The Senator added: “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 and to alleviate the sufferings of the zone.
“I must also assure all the stakeholders that our regular consultations will not stop. There better days ahead,” Senator Jarigbe stated.
Speaking, the Cross River State PDP Chairman, Venatius Ikem, Esq, commended Senator Jarigbe for the bold step taken so far, promising to go back to the State Executive members for further consultations on the next line of action.
“In a united front, the stakeholders pledged their support for Governor Otu’s administration and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“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.”
Present at the meeting include Hon. Godwin Offiono, representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Austin Edibe; former Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Tom Ogar and Mike Aniah, Esq; Dr. DornKlamz Enamhe, Dr. Paul Ibiala, Hon Peter Ignodor and several other party stalwarts.
