Liyel Imoke, a former governor of Cross River State, and Gershom Bassey, a former senator from Cross River South, have both resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Both politicians sent separate letters to the chairmen of their respective wards announcing their decisions.
Bassey announced his desire to leave the party with immediate effect in a resignation letter dated March 12, 2026, and written to the PDP Ward Chairman of Ward 9 in Calabar South Local Government Area.
The former senator, who served as the representative for Cross River South in the 8th and 9th Senate, characterized the action as a challenging choice impacted by recent party developments.
As a founding member of the PDP, Bassey pointed out that he made a substantial contribution to the party’s development into a powerful political force.
However, he claimed that the party’s internal problems had made it impossible for him to maintain optimism about its future.
In a same vein, on March 2, 2026, Imoke sent a letter to the PDP Ward Chairman in Itigidi Council Ward, Abi Local Government Area, announcing his resignation.
According to the former governor, the ruling ended his 28-year affiliation with the party.
He claimed that it was challenging for him to continue serving the organization and the people in an efficient manner due to the long-standing issues inside the party.
Imoke, who claimed to have joined the PDP in 1998, thanked the party for providing him with opportunities during his political career.
He stated that the party gave him the opportunity to hold a number of positions, such as Governor of Cross River State, Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Presidential Special Advisor.
On March 3, 2026, Elder David Alobo James, the Itigidi Council Ward Ward Chairman of the party, acknowledged the resignation letter.
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