In what many political observers have described as a major realignment in the political landscape of Biase Local Government Area, Surveyor Augustine Aidam, the 2023 House of Representatives candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency, has formally resigned from the party, citing a loss of confidence in its direction and leadership.
In a letter dated May 29, 2025, addressed to the PDP Ward Chairman of Ehom Ward in Biase Local Government Area, the respected political leader and former Chapter Chairman of the party lamented the prevailing internal challenges that, according to him, have eroded the credibility of the PDP as a viable platform for future political engagement. “This decision, though difficult, is necessitated by the prevailing challenges within the party,” Aidam wrote with gravity.
He further expounded that the PDP, in its current state, lacks a coherent roadmap as the nation inches closer to the decisive 2027 general elections. According to him, this absence of vision has not only dampened his enthusiasm but also that of his numerous supporters, who now seek a platform that resonates with their aspirations for development and meaningful representation.
In a move loaded with both political symbolism and strategic intent, Hon. Aidam expressed his willingness to align with the vision of His Excellency, Apostle (Senator) Prince Bassey Otu, Governor of Cross River State, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership at the grassroots level. He declared his full support for the Executive Chairman of Biase, Hon. Edodi Eyong Edodi, and his Akamkpa counterpart, Ntufam (Hon.) Felix Akposi, describing them as drivers of genuine progress under the APC banner.
Observers view this defection not merely as an individual’s political decision, but as the catalyst behind the recent flurry of resignations from the PDP across Biase. Over the past weeks, a wave of prominent party faithfuls and grassroots mobilisers have exited the PDP, many of them citing Hon. Aidam’s principled stand and silent leadership as their moral compass in following suit.
“It is a realignment long foretold and now boldly executed,” a senior APC official noted during a phone conversation. “With men like Augustine Aidam crossing over, the APC is solidifying its grip on Biase and indeed the entire Akamkpa/Biase axis.”
In a statesmanlike tone, Aidam used his resignation letter to extend gratitude to the PDP for the opportunities it afforded him during his service as Leader of Council, Chapter Chairman, and candidate in the 2023 general election. He prayed for the party’s future and bade his former colleagues farewell with dignified words of appreciation.
Political analysts suggest that this grand defection marks a turning point in the build-up to 2027, as the APC gains increasing ground in areas once considered strongholds of the PDP. As the dust settles on this latest political shift, one thing is clear: Augustine Aidam’s exit has sent ripples far beyond the wards of Biase—it has shaken the very foundation of the opposition’s relevance in Cross River’s southern flank.
