The attention of the All Progressives Congress, Cross River State Chapter has been drawn to a mischievous and misleading publication on various social media platforms alleging the pegging of Chairmanship and Councillorship forms for the forthcoming Local Government elections at 15 million naira and 6 million naira respectively.
This allegation is a falsehood peddled by detractors, aimed at causing disaffection within the party structures. It is important to clarify the situation to forestall any form of disparagement within the party.
Let it be known that:
1. The Release of Elections Time Table and Guidelines, including the fees for forms, is contingent upon the assent to the amended Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) bill by the Executive Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu. Until this bill is signed into law, and until CROSIEC gives notice of election followed by the release of guidelines and timetable by the party, no official fees or any electoral proceeding can be set.
2. The Cross River State chapter of APC has not officially contemplated nor announced any specific amount for Chairmanship or Councillorship forms for the upcoming Local Government elections in the state.
Whether Forms will be sold or not and the actual fees for forms if at all will be determined in consultation with the Leadership of the Party and attendant ratification by the State Executive Committee of the Party. At the moment, it will be inchoate to do so.
3. Only releases signed by the APC State Publicity Secretary should be regarded as official party communications. Any publications or claims made by individuals or groups on social media or other platforms, without the party’s authorization, should be completely disregarded. These are often the work of mischief makers aiming to create confusion and misinform the public.
4. All detractors should be guided accordingly as the party will not condone acts of indiscipline by anyone, no matter how highly placed the person may be.
Therefore, All party faithful and the general public are urged to disregard the said derisive publication, as the APC remains committed to transparency and fairness in the Electoral Process.
Signed:
Emmanuel Edem Inyang JP
State Publicity Secretary
All Progressive Congress
17th September, 2024.
