PDP embarrassed by Ayade’s defection

Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State has described the defection of his counterpart from Cross River State, Ben Ayade, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as “shocking” and “embarrassing”.

Governor Ishaku spoke while fielding questions from State House reporters after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, to discuss issues surrounding Mambilla Hydropower among others.

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The governor said the National Reconciliation and Strategy Committee headed by a former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, did a good job to make him (Ayade) stay but he had other reasons.

Ishiaku said: “Well, I wouldn’t know precisely the governor’s thinking, because all of us are different; but we are greatly shocked and embarrassed that he will suddenly dump the party for APC, because all of us see PDP as an alternative to APC. And all the PDP governors are doing very, very well, in their respective states.”

Asked whether he foresees more PDP governors joining the APC, the Taraba governor said: “I don’t see that happening and like I said, even his own was a shock to some of us. I don’t see that happening. And for Nigeria, we should hope for an opposition, a vibrant opposition that will help to put the system going.”