TheCable

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a “sinking wreckage”.

The ruling party said this following the defection of Ben Ayade, governor of Cross River, from the PDP to the APC.

In a statement on Thursday, John Akpanudoedehe, national secretary of the APC national caretaker committee, commended Ayade’s “wise and timely decision to leave a dead party” and join “a living and thriving party”.

“We commend the patriotic disposition and judgement that shaped Governor Ayade’s decision to join forces with President Muhammadu Buhari to build a better Nigeria as a member of the APC,” Akpanudoedehe said.

“The APC is advising the other governors who are stranded in the sinking wreckage of the PDP to exercise the best option of abandoning that vessel.

“The APC is also urging members of the PDP in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly who are still hanging on to the sinking party to leave it for good and join the APC, which has been repositioned by the excellent leadership qualities of His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, the National Chairman of the party’s Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).”

The national secretary said the Cross River governor has always been “an APC man at heart”, adding that he has so far managed the state in a “progressive manner”.

“The APC observed that the total lack of internal democracy, which turned the PDP into a one-man show, has caused frustration and alienated PDP governors and legislators who are hardly consulted in the way the party is administered,” he said.

“The lack of democracy was exhibited by the PDP, which hurled invectives on Governor Ayade for dumping the party which has totally lost focus and purpose.

“As leader of the APC in Cross River State, we call on all our supporters, members and leaders to rally around, support and work with Governor Ayade to rebuild, reposition and strengthen the Party in Cross River State and by extension the South South and the country at large.”