Ayade Denies Deposing To Affidavit That He Is Still A PDP Member

By Patrick Obia

Cross River Governor, Benedict Ayade has denied rumors that he deposed to an affidavit claiming he is still a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

A quote, allegedly taken from an affidavit he deposed to in response to suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/975/2021 filed by the PDP asking the Court to sack him following his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last year said he had denied taking such actions.

And, following the judgment by Justice Ekwo Inyang of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court sacking of Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State for defecting from the PDP to the APC, the quote circulated widely on social media without any proof of authenticity.

It read: “I am not a registered member of APC, I only decamped to APC” – Gov. Ayade of Cross-River in an SWORN AFFIDAVIT.

But, Mr. Ayade took to his verified Facebook page on Saturday to debunk the claim.

“I am a bonafide and registered member of the APC. Stop the cheap propaganda aimed at wooing APC members to PDP,” he wrote.

Recall that, the PDP had in October 2021 instituted a suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja, praying the court to, among others, sack Ayade and his Deputy, Ivara Esu, following their defection to the APC.

Listed as defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/975/2021 are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the APC, Ayade and Esu.

In the suit filed for it by a team of lawyers led by Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, the PDP argued that the mandate given by the electorate in Cross River State was to the PDP and Ayade, as the candidate of the party at the election, cannot transfer the mandate to the APC or any other political party.

The PDP prayed the court to issue “a judicial declaration giving the PDP an opportunity to nominate a replacement to the seat of the governor and the deputy governor in Cross River State.”

It further wanted a declaration that, in view of the provisions of Section 221 of the Constitution, adding that under the nation’s democratic system, votes at the election and elections are won by political parties and not their candidate or the candidates sponsored at the election by the political