Former Cross River governor, Liyel Imoke, says the People’s Democratic Party would reclaim the state from the All Progressives Congress at the 2023 general election.

Sitting governor Ben Ayade had won the governorship seat on the platform of the PDP, but defected to the APC on May 20, 2021.

But Mr Imoke told journalists at the end of a PDP caucus meeting that the party’s confidence stemmed from the fact that it had never lost an election in the state, adding that the governor’s defection was not a loss.

“We have never lost an election in Cross River since 1999 when Nigeria returned to democracy; a defection is not a loss,” he said.

Mr Imoke said the caucus meeting was summoned to strategise for the 2023 elections.

“On the issue of zoning, just as at the national level where the issue of zoning is being discussed, we also discussed it at the caucus level.

“It is not my responsibility to disclose what was discussed on the issue,’’ the former minister of power said.

He maintained that the PDP in the state was organised, well managed, and had an experienced chairman with a long history of political participation.

In his remarks, the chairman, Venatius Ikem, said the caucus had robust discussions on varied issues, including zoning and that the public would be informed of decisions taken at the appropriate time.

Mr Ikem stressed that the party was yet to take a decision on the zoning of power or any other position in the state to the southern senatorial district.

“On the issue of zoning power to the southern senatorial district, our party will take its decision at the appropriate time,” he said.

(NAN)