Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has officially received the former Deputy Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, Dr. Emana Ambrose-Amawhe, into the All Progressives Congress (APC), in what political observers see as a significant realignment within the state’s political landscape.
The development comes just hours after Dr. Emana publicly declared her defection from the PDP to the ruling APC via a post on her verified X (formerly Twitter) account. She was formally ushered to the Government House in Calabar by the State Chairman of the APC, Barr. Alphonsus Ogar Eba, in company of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, and warmly received by Governor Otu and his wife, Her Excellency Rev. Eyoanwan Bassey Otu.
Speaking shortly after her meeting with the governor, Dr. Emana described the visit as one of courtesy and respect, while also using the occasion to formally intimate the governor and his wife of her recent political switch. She hinted that the grand ceremony to mark her official and ceremonial entry into the APC, alongside what she described as “thousands of supporters and notable political figures,” will be announced in the coming days.
“I only went to greet His Excellency the Governor and Her Excellency Bishop Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, as a mark of respect, and to formally inform them of my movement. The day of my formal and ceremonial movement to my new party, the All Progressives Congress, along with thousands of my supporters and other big names, will be made known soon,” she said.
Dr. Emana had earlier communicated her resignation from the PDP through a letter dated March 28, addressed to the party chairman in Edem Odo Ward, Akpabuyo Local Government Area. In the letter, she acknowledged the weight of her decision and noted that it was made after wide consultations. She reaffirmed her dedication to the growth and unity of Cross River State and Nigeria at large.
Her political journey within the PDP had seen her contest for the House of Representatives ticket for the Bakassi/Akpabuyo/Calabar South Federal Constituency, before emerging as the running mate to Senator Sandy Onor in the 2023 governorship election. Despite a spirited campaign, the PDP lost the gubernatorial race to Governor Otu of the APC.
Her defection is being viewed as a strategic gain for the APC, as the party continues to consolidate its dominance in Cross River State ahead of future political contests. Political analysts believe her entry could boost the party’s grassroots appeal, particularly in the Southern Senatorial District, where she enjoys a considerable support base.
With preparations already underway for her formal induction into the APC, the state’s political dynamics are expected to shift further, as more high-profile defections are rumored to be in the pipeline.