By CrossRiverWatch Admin
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Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade has said the decision of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court to uphold his defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) showed that the judiciary stood “firm on the tabernacle of truth.”
The PDP had challenged Mr. Ayade’s defection in court seeking for his removal. But, the presiding Judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo threw the case out while citing a recent Appeal Court ruling on a similar case in neighboring Ebonyi State.
And, upon Mr. Ayade’s return to Calabar after the judgment, the Cross River APC lobby group largely funded by his finance commissioner, Asuquo Ekpenyong Jr. organized a welcome rally for him where he commended the judiciary and reiterated his stance that the State had no business with playing opposition given it’s financial challenge.
Ayade, who stressed that the State was now APC, reiterated his support for a successor from southern Cross River despite the State Chairman of the party, Alphonsus Eba telling journalists recently that the position has not been zoned yet. Furthermore, he urged residents to go get registered for their Permanent Voter Card.
“Cross River has no business with opposition politics. When the time comes, we will show them we are an APC state,” Ayade said, adding that God brought him into office, hence his decision to thank the judiciary.
“It is God that brought me to this office and only God can take me out. That is why I am here to say thank you to the judiciary for refusing to submit to the imbecilic stupidity and irresponsible conduct of people who believe that money and power belong to them.
“I am happy that the judiciary rose and said we are too celebrated, we are too cerebral to bow to shenanigans. So we thank God. First, I give God almighty the adoration, the praise, and secondly, I thank the judiciary for standing for justice, for standing firm on the tabernacle of truth.
“As a lawyer, I know how a Governor can be removed from office and defection from one party to another is not one of them. The Supreme Court has already settled it that votes belong to a candidate, a human being with flesh and blood and not a party. A party is just a vehicle, an agent, so the votes belong to me, the votes belong to Ayade.”
Mr. Ekpenyong hopes to succeed Mr. Ayade. In his address, he told the crowd that Mr. Ayade remained a youth friendly person while recalling how he was appointed a Commissioner at 29.
Also, the APC national women leader Dr. Betta Edu, who accompanied Mr. Ayade from Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, paid glowing tribute to the governor’s leadership qualities. She said he has redefined governance and politics in the State.