Former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
According to Vanguard, Duke was formally registered as an ADC member in Ward 5 of Calabar Municipality, where he received his membership card amid celebrations from party supporters.
This development marks the second time Duke has exited the PDP. He had previously defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), where he emerged as the party’s presidential candidate—a move that generated significant controversy at the time.
With his latest defection, Duke aligns with other prominent political figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi and Peter Obi, who have also moved to the ADC.
Meanwhile, ADC leaders in Bakassi Local Government Area have called on residents of Cross River State to embrace the party, describing it as a credible vehicle for meaningful political and national transformation.
The appeal followed a stakeholders’ meeting attended by chapter executives, ward chairmen and party secretaries in Bakassi. Party leaders urged Nigerians to rally behind the ADC as a way of reclaiming the country from what they described as poor governance under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement released to journalists in Calabar on Friday, the party said:
“We call on our family members and friends who are still undecided to join the ADC, as the party is ready to deliver transformative change in Nigeria.”
The statement, signed by Bakassi Chapter Chairman Emmanuel Asuquo and Secretary Eko Boco, reaffirmed the chapter’s allegiance to the party’s national leadership.
“We restate our total confidence in the leadership of Senator David Mark, National Chairman, and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, National Secretary, and pledge our loyalty to all recognised organs and structures of the party at every level as we work towards building a strong and united ADC,” the statement added.