How Buhari’s integrity wooed me to APC – Governor Ayade explains

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has claimed that he left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC because of his personal relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ayade said this after he met President Buhari behind closed doors on Thursday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Ayade, had on Thursday, May 20, 2021, announced his defection to All Progressives Congress (APC) in Calabar, capital of the State, and was received by Yobe Governor and APC caretaker Committee Chair, Mai Mala Buni

The governor was visiting the Presidential Villa for the first time since his defection from PDP to APC last month.

Fielding questions from State House correspondents following the meeting, Ayade emphasised that he left the PDP for the sake of Buhari, adding that the president’s virtues attracted him to APC.

“I moved into the APC because of my personal relationship with Mr. President. I have watched him and I found honesty, integrity and I see his wish and commitment to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“To that extent, I have a leader that I trust.

“Opposition in the third world means let everything happen that will make the other party look bad.

“I’m one of the strong Nigerian Governors, who has risen beyond party lines and ethnic lines by virtue of my education and exposure,” he said.

Ayade was re-elected as the governor of Cross River State in the 2019 gubernatorial elections.

He ran successfully for the office of governor in April 2015 on the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Before that, he was a member of the 7th Senate of Nigeria