Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has insisted 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.
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.
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“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.