We have reliably gathered from sources inside the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, headquarters in Abuja, that the party will go ahead with an internal arrangement to hand serving National Assembly members on the party’s platform, party nominations, across the country, for next year’s general elections.
This decision it appears will thrust the party into another round of confusion, ahead of next year’s elections, after it sold forms to several aspirants and made them incur attendant costs, before reaching the decision to jettison the political ambitions of many, for a few.
For Cross River State, this decision means that only in the Central Senatorial District will the PDP be lining up a fresh candidate after John Owan Enoh, who presently occupies the position, defected to the APC and has further gone on to formally declare his interest to run for governor of Cross River State. Senators Gershom Bassey and Rose Oko, representing CR Southern and Northern Senatorial Districts, respectively, appear by this arrangement to have secured free passage to next year’s contest.
In the Central Senatorial District of the state, the party appears to have sold her senatorial slot to the highest bidder. Talk abound that a former governor of the state, may have superintended over a behind-the-scene process that firmly shut the door on the agitation that Old Obubra, comprising Obubra, Yakurr and Abi local government areas, will have a go at the red chamber. “We suspect money, I mean real money, has exchanged hands and Old Obubra will have to wait for another eight years; it is the price to have to pay for having him as their son”, we were tipped. We are yet to ascertain this submission, even though our source maintains it is the truth. This arrangement also does not work in favour of Boki Local Government Area, regarding the Boki/Ikom Federal Constituency. Several of CRS governor, Ben Ayade’s appointees from the area who resigned their appointments to contest for this position, may have bitten dust. Chris Agibe, who presently occupies the seat, will by this new development return to Abuja while his contenders to the position, rue their miss.
It however opens up a political window of opportunity that the All Progressives Congress, APC, can exploit, if her senatorial candidate comes from old Obubra.
Eta Mbora, Essien Ayi, Daniel Asuquo, House of Reps incumbents in Southern CR, Jarigbe Agom and Legor Idagbo, in the North of CR, may not need to look over their shoulders again, if this decision is forced down the throat of every body. Late into Friday night and early this morning, where the PDP in the state gathered at the Transcorp Hotel, Calabar, to screen State House of Assembly aspirants, party officials were not disposed to talking to www.calitown.com
…more details in the updates to follow!
