There are indications that a fresh crisis may rock the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Cross River State after the party threw up a contentious list of candidates, believed to have been handpicked by state governor, Ben Ayade, acting through political proxies, for the March 2020 local council polls.
Across the state, party supporters appear not to have come to terms with a selection process that has been driven through without their input. But on condition of anonymity, a source close to the governor confided in www.calitown.com that, “this is period where some people will become unhappy, considering that their personal expectations have not been met. What the governor has simply done is support across the LGAs, candidates who will not go into our councils and operate alone. He has basically considered people with a low background who will listen to the yearnings and aspirations of their people. Gladiators, who are in control of this or that group of warring supporters have been left out. We cannot have political terrorists, living above good counsel, coming to run our councils.”
However, there is a hue and cry that critical stakeholders within the PDP in the state were “easily ignored and the candidates chosen with arrogance. As Ayade and his team have displayed this level of arrogance in the choice of candidates, only God will know what the outcome of the elections will be. We have a ready case to point to; the Alex Egbona and John Gaul Lebo elections story. Liyel Imoke brought out a candidate minimally liked and imposed him on everyone and the people voted against him and today Egbona is in the House of Reps. I can assure you that what played out between Egbona and Lebo will be replicated in several LGAs in this state if we are not careful”, one insists.
Edim Inok Edim, State Chairman of the PDP, while reacting, informed newsmen in Calabar that the party cannot subject itself and processes to the personal demands of a few persons who have over the years dictated the political pace of the party, over and above the demands of a larger group of party members.
In the weeks leading up to the much anticipated council polls and after, it remains to be seen what outcomes will play out.
Am so amazed that in this 21st century people can be hand picked to represent the party prior to elections in a sensitive grass root political office like local government Chairman. What has happened to the process of democratically electing a universally acceptable candidate? Well in my opinion , this is the height of illegality and insensitivity in the party and should be resisted.