Lawmaker Bassey Akiba rallies 8,000 supporters into APC in Cross River Ani Bassey
Ani Bassey
The member representing Calabar Municipality and Odukpani Federal Constituency Hon. Bassey Akiba has formally joined the Cross River State All Progressives Congress alongside 8,000 supporters.
Hon. Akiba disclosed this during a his formal declaration for the ruling All Progressives Congress in Calabar.
The lawmaker said having come from the Obidient movement, he was not expecting that number of people to come over to the APC with him.
He emphasized that the movement is beyond a political party and is about quality leadership.
He said he lost the support of the party due to the division and this is part of the reasons for leaving the Labour Party.
On his reason for dumping the Labour party, Hon. Akiba said the party became dysfunctional due to internal strife and this made it impossible for him to work.
“I could no longer function in my former party. As a lawmaker, you need the party to function but where a party is dysfunctional, it becomes near impossible to operate as a parliamentarian.
“Because of the division in my former party, a section calls a meeting and when you go another section sees you as being disloyal and vice versa it becomes a big challenge.
“I could not know who to work with and as a lawmaker you need the support of the party to deliver and the absence of this support is part of the reasons I left”, he said.
Welcoming the lawmaker to the Cross River State APC, the State Secretary, Pastor Patrick Asikpo said there is no old and new APC member in the state.
He declared that Hon. Akiba’s privileges start right away and he is entitled to contest for any position in the party come 2027.
Also speaking, Titi Ndifom, the State Vice Chairman South of the APC said they are pleased to have Hon. Akiba in their fold and this will make things easier for the APC come 2027.
Hon. Etim Asido, the Chairman of Odukpani welcomed the lawmaker to the APC and described him as a good mentor who groomed many people while serving as chairman of Odukpani council.
He added that what has been handed over to him is what he will deliver come 2027.
