Hon. Essien Ekpenyong Ayi, a veteran politician who represented the Calabar South/Akpabuyo/Bakassi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives for two decades, has officially switched allegiance from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ayi, who served in the lower chamber from 2003 to 2023 under the PDP banner, made the formal declaration on Sunday, December 28, 2025, by registering as an APC member at his Ward 8 polling unit in Calabar South. The event drew cheers from party faithful and local leaders.
Insiders say Ayi had quietly distanced himself from the PDP around mid-2025, gradually building ties with Governor Bassey Otu’s administration. His move follows his defeat in the 2023 elections, when he lost his re-election bid to APC’s Joseph Bassey—a result that surprised many given Ayi’s deep roots and reputation for grassroots mobilization.
Political observers view the defection as a major gain for the APC in the Southern Senatorial District, with reports suggesting that thousands of Ayi’s loyalists—potentially over 5,000 PDP members—are expected to follow him into the ruling party. This could strengthen the APC’s foothold in Calabar South ahead of future polls.
The PDP’s state Publicity Secretary, Mike Ojisi, brushed off the impact, calling defections a routine part of politics and insisting the opposition remains resilient in Cross River.
Ayi’s switch comes on the heels of other high-profile moves, including the recent defection of a serving senator from the state, underscoring shifting alliances in the region’s political landscape.
