Cross River Remains PDP Despite Ayade’s Defection – Liyel Imoke

Former Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, has stated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains the party to beat despite the defection of Governor Ben Ayade.

Naija News recalls that Ayade had recently dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking to Vanguard on the effect Ayade’s defection would have on the state which is historically a PDP state, Liyel Imoke insisted that his party remains strong.

He stated that despite the governor’s defection to the APC, the ruling party would find it hard to dislodge the PDP.

“I’m glad you ended that question with saying that it’s a state that has a history of being a PDP state. I think in the past you would see that states that have that type of strength, irrespective of a defection, tend, at all times, to remain strong. There’s a reason for that. What you perceive as power will determine how you lead,” Liyel Imoke said.

“If you perceive power to be a political party, then you will be moving from one political party to another but if you understand that power ultimately is the people and that it belongs to the people, you will appreciate that it is not about the party. PDP in Cross River State has always been about the people and I think we still remain with the people; so the party has endeared itself to the people and as such a movement by the governor does not of its own translate to the people moving into another political party, because they have already identified strongly with the party – the PDP.

“It is sort of like what you have in the United States and other countries where there are strongholds; a state like California is defined as a Democratic stronghold. Cross River State is a PDP stronghold.”