Cross River Senator Agom Jarigbe Defects from PDP to APC Despite Earlier Pledge to Stay

Senator Agom Jarigbe, representing Cross River North in the National Assembly, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The announcement of his defection adds to the growing list of opposition lawmakers crossing over to the APC in recent months, as political alignments continue to shift ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Senator Jarigbe’s defection has drawn attention because, only a few months ago, in June, he publicly reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP. At the time, he vowed not to join the wave of defections that had weakened the party’s ranks across the country. His latest move, however, marks a reversal of that stance.

Although details of the circumstances surrounding his defection remain unclear, sources within the Senate suggest that the decision may have been influenced by political realignments within Cross River State and at the national level.

Senator Jarigbe, who was elected to the Senate in 2023, has been a prominent voice from the South-South region, often advocating for better federal attention to infrastructure and development in Cross River North.

His switch to the APC is expected to further strengthen the ruling party’s influence in the state, which has witnessed a steady migration of key political figures from the PDP since Governor Ben Ayade’s defection to the APC in 2021.

The PDP is yet to issue an official statement in response to Senator Jarigbe’s defection.

By Ibrahim B.Benita

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