Mr Alphonsus Eba, Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Cross River chapter, says the present political realignment in the country is due to the impactful leadership of President Bola Tinubu.
Eba said this in Calabar on Saturday, while reacting to the current wave of political realignmen across the state and country in general.
He noted that Tinubu’s goodwill had enhanced public confidence and made the APC an attractive platform for leaders seeking development-focused politics.
According to him, more stakeholders are choosing to identify with an administration that is showing tangible results rather than remaining in a party struggling with outdated ideas and persistent internal rifts.
He added that Tinubu needed all the support to drive home his reforms that were already yielding the desired results.
“The President is doing a lot to change the country for the better, and all he needs is our support.
“He was in the opposition for several years, and as such, could not be seen to be muscling opposition,” Eba said.
On the planned defection of some members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River to the APC, the state party chairman said that Gov. Bassey Otu’s “People First Mantra” and his “political evangelism” approach to mobilisation was the key.
He said that the APC had continued to consolidate its hold, particularly in Cross River North.
He cited the anticipated defection of Sen. Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe, Godwin Offiono and the PDP faction led by Venatius Ikem as a key indicator of the party’s growing dominance.
The APC chairman described his political evangelism strategy as a spiritually guided assignment centred on peace, love, unity and growth.
He added that the model aligned with former Gov. Ben Ayade’s “Back to the Centre” philosophy.
According to him, Ayade’s move to the APC in 2021 ushered in a new era for the party.
He described the impending defection of Senator Jarigbe, Offiono, and their supporters as a major setback for the PDP.
“This clearly shows that the political direction of Cross River North has changed,” he emphasised.
Eba assured that the APC would continue to broaden its membership base, strengthen internal unity, and maintain the momentum that had positioned the state as a strong APC-controlled state.
