by By Elijah Ugani – Calabar
A frontline contender for the ticket of the All Progressive Congress APC, for Cross River Northern senatorial district bye election comes 31stOctober, 2020, Prof. Zana Akpagu has called on his teeming supporters to remain resolute despite the sighting of the photocopy of a document that have a semblance with the independent National Electoral Commission INEC nomination form.
Prof. Akpagu maintained that they will not hasitate to take legal action to reclaim their mandate should the document turn out to be true.
In release made available to The Lumine News and signed by Mr. Peter Inyali, for Prof. Zana Akpagu Campaign Organization, calls on all supporters to remain calm as they are yet to ascertain the authenticity of the said document considering the fact that the document beared 9th September, when the Appeal Panel sat for the first time on the 8th September, 2020.
The release reads in parts “Truth Can Only Be Delayed, Not Denied.
“The attention of Prof. Zana Akpagu Campaign Organization has been drawn to a photocopy of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Senatorial Nomination form bearing the name of one Joe Agi, SAN as candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Cross River North Senatorial district bye-election circulating online.
“We want to urge all our supporters to remain calm as we are yet to confirm the authenticity of the said document. This is necessary because the said document beared September 9th yet the primary appeal panel sat for the first time on 8th and the aspirant whose name appeared on the form was attended to on the 9th.
“The panel report was possibly sent to the National working Committee on the 10th for a decision to be taken on the 11th when they met. We believe that the INEC nomination form could not have been given to anybody when aspirants who appeared before the panel are still awaiting the decision of the national leadership of the party.
“The victory of Prof. Zana Akpagu at the poll was too clear that cannot be subverted. During the panel, the aspirant (Akpagu) presented reports backed with ward and chapter results from INEC, Police, DSS, Observers/Civil Society Organizations that certify his victory.
“With the glaring evidences, we are confident that the leadership of our great party would not fall to the antics of those who are so scared of competition within the party but think they can always use the back door to get the ticket to chicken out in the main election like in the primary to give the PDP a smooth ride.
“Not withstanding, we want to state unequivocally clear that in the event that the document turns out to be true, we won’t hesitate to take the necessary legal action to reclaim our mandate.
“This is democracy hence, the wishes of the people should be allowed to prevail and not the selfish wishes of a privileged few.
“Inyali Peter
For Prof. Zana Akpagu Campaign Organization”
