By Abasi Ita
Former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State, Venatius Ikem, has explained the circumstances surrounding his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing uncertainties within the opposition party, the political position of his leader, Chief Nyesom Wike, on President Bola Tinubu’s re-election and Governor Bassey Otu’s performance.
Ikem, who recently dumped the PDP for the APC, gave the explanation during an interview on ARISE News Breakfast Show on Thursday, as political parties and stakeholders begin positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He described the PDP as a party struggling with internal divisions, organisational uncertainty and a lack of clear political direction, arguing that its fragmented structures had weakened its capacity to challenge the ruling party effectively.
Assessing the PDP’s electoral prospects, Ikem said its political structures had become scattered, with prominent members aligning with different political camps.
“I see an incumbent who is doing well, and I see our own structures, which are completely dissipated in multiple directions. You find former governors here and there, former senators all over the place. If you tell me that we have a structure that will win elections, I would think you are performing a miracle,” he said.
He identified the uncertainty surrounding the PDP’s governorship campaign in Cross River as the final straw that convinced him to leave the party, adding that its campaign machinery had failed to generate the necessary momentum at both national and state levels.
Ikem also expressed reservations about the party’s preparedness for the 2027 elections, particularly its capacity to mobilise support behind its presidential candidate, Professor Sandy Onor.
The former PDP chairman acknowledged the influence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on his political career, describing him as a leader whose support had contributed significantly to his political advancement.
He explained that Wike’s decision to support President Tinubu’s re-election had influenced his political realignment, adding that he considered it appropriate to openly identify with the direction his political leader was pursuing.
Ikem said he had previously supported the APC from behind the scenes but decided to formally join the party and contribute to its political activities from within its mainstream.
Beyond Wike’s influence and the PDP’s internal crisis, Ikem identified Governor Bassey Otu’s performance as another significant consideration in his decision to join the APC.
He admitted that his perception of the governor had changed following a closer assessment of developments in the state over the past few months, despite having previously criticised his administration.
“Sometimes it’s easy to criticise and criticise and criticise. But through the last couple of months, I realised that despite his rather, or maybe because of his rather, so much has been accomplished that is not in the forefront of media and publicity,” he said.
According to him, the Otu administration has accomplished considerably more than is generally acknowledged, particularly in areas that have not received sufficient media attention and publicity.
On the much-discussed Rainbow Coalition, Ikem said he had neither participated in its deliberations nor been briefed about any political arrangement involving Cross River.
He explained that although he had followed reports about the coalition, particularly developments in Rivers State and Abuja, through television, he was unaware of any concrete discussions concerning Cross River.
Ikem added that he could not commit himself to a political arrangement whose structure, objectives and electoral strategy remained unclear.
His defection marks another significant political realignment in Cross River as the APC and other political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections.
