Former Ambassador Defects to APC

Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Mali, Chief Sonny Abang, yesterday in Calabar defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Abang, who also served as chairman of the PDP in the state from 2001 to 2007, made the announcement at a brief ceremony at the state secretariat of the APC where he was warmly received by members of the state working committee of the party, and chairman, Pastor Usani Usani.

Addressing members of the party, Abang who was accompanied by known members of the PDP and many of his supporters said: “I am now a member of the APC. I am moving to the party with my supporters. There is need to complete the last lap of the elections as APC members and I promise to work to ensure the APC grows from strength to strength.

“I am not going to talk about my former party because I have moved on. I am looking to a golden future in the state.

“We need to do whatever we can to get our own fair share of national attention. Cross River has been neglected. All is not well with the state. If there is anytime we need the support of the government at the centre, it is now. This is the right time to do the needful.”

In his remarks, Usani said members of the party were delighted at Abang’s formal entry into the APC.

Usani said the public defection of the former PDP chieftain is bring to the fore what Abang had already done in principle long ago, as he has remained a pillar in the support of the activities of the APC in Boki Local Government Area and the Central senatorial district in particular.

In his reaction to the defection of Abang to the APC, the party’s Vice-Chairman in the central senatorial district, Mr. Cletus Obun, said the defection of the former Ambassador to the APC is one of the best things that has happened to the party in the state.

Obun said Abang’s membership of the APC would definitely enhance the chances of the party in the governorship and House of assembly elections which hold tomorrow.

Observers say the defection of Abang to the APC is a sign of more defections that would hit the PDP in the state after the Saturday elections.