PDP chieftain urges Senator Jarigbe to remain in party, warns against APC defection

Dr. Austin Ibok, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Chairman of the Labour Party in Cross River State, has appealed to Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe to stay in the, PDP, cautioning that defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, may offer short-term comfort but could lead to long-term regret.

Ibok described Jarigbe’s performance in the Senate as exemplary and a “political wake-up call” for the APC emphasizing that the senator has become a rallying point for effective representation and must remain in the PDP to sustain public confidence.

“I want to appeal to Senator Jarigbe,  this is not the time to abandon the PDP. Defection may bring short-term comfort, but it will surely lead to long-term regret. You have become a face of performance and credibility in our party,” Ibok said in a statement issued in Calabar.

He dismissed claims that recent defections had weakened the PDP, insisting that the movement for change remains strong ahead of the 2027 elections.

“We will not be defeated by defections. The movement is bigger than individuals. We are reorganising, reconnecting with the people, and preparing to defeat Tinubu and Otu in 2027,” Ibok declared.

The PDP stalwart also commended Senator Jarigbe for redefining representation in Cross River North, noting that his accessibility and developmental initiatives have raised the bar of public service and restored confidence in the party’s ideals.

Ibok urged party stakeholders to remain steadfast and strengthen internal unity, stressing that only a principled and strategic opposition can reclaim the trust of Nigerians.

“Our mission is to restore hope, strengthen democracy, and present a credible alternative. The PDP will reclaim power in 2027,” he added.