Sen Odey Dumps PDP For APC, Rues Losing Red Chamber’s Seat

BY UBON EKANEM – Still smarting from the loss of his senatorial seat at the Appeal Court, Senator Steven Odey of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has formally dumped the party to join forces with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State.

Odey’s defection took place at the weekend in his Yache ward of Yala Local Government Area of the State with many of his supporters following joining the exodus train.

At the well-attended defection party were APC chieftains in the State led by Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu, who represented Governor Ben Ayade. Others who graced the occasion were the State Acting Chairman of APC, Senator Matthew Mbu Jnr, Commissioners, Local Government Council Chairmen, and top government officials.

Receiving Senator Odey and his supporters, the APC chairman, Senator Mbu described him as the best Senator to have emerged from Cross River North given the unprecedented impact he made during his short but eventful stay in the upper legislative Chamber.

Noting that Odey must have been a magician to record such impressive achievements in a short time, Mbu urged the Yache people and Cross Riverians to queue behind Governor Ayade and the APC to move the State forward.

In his remarks, the Deputy Governor, Prof Esu praised Senator Odey as a man of exceptional humility and unassuming lifestyle who has the interest of his people at heart.

The Deputy Governor assured the people of Governor Ayade’s commitment and resolve to take State to greater heights of glory and development.

A visibly delighted Senator Odey lauded the APC’s leadership for receiving him into the party with an open arms, adding that his supporters in Yache and beyond deserved sincere commendation for backing the decision to defect with him to the ruling party.

According to him, the decision to join APC was in the overall interest of his people given that service to the people is not all about political parties but one’s passion for the people.

Before the Appeal Court ruling that rejected arguments about his being the duly nominated and sponsored PDP candidate for the December 5, 2020 by-election in Cross River North Senatorial district, Odey spent about nine months in the National Assembly.

Following that judgment, Odey has been replaced in the Red Chamber by a former House of Representatives member, Jarigbe A. Jarigbe, also a member of PDP.