The Lumine News

Category: 2023 General Election

  • Breaking: Federal High Court Calabar Prevents INEC From Recognizing Cynthia Nkashi As APC Candidate To Contest Yala 2 State Constituency Election

    Breaking: Federal High Court Calabar Prevents INEC From Recognizing Cynthia Nkashi As APC Candidate To Contest Yala 2 State Constituency Election

     

    The Federal High Court, Calabar, has entered judgment in favour Dr Martins Achadu and  the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), granting among others:

    AN ORDER nullifying the publication of the name of Cynthia Nkasi, by INEC, done on the 22nd of July, 2022, Cynthia Nkasi having not emerged the candidate of the APC by due process of law to contest with the Plaintiffs for the Cross River State House of Assembly, Yala II Constituency in the 2023 General Elections.

    AN ORDER directing INEC not to accept, recognize or include Cynthia Nkasi as the candidate of the APC to contest with the Plaintiffs for the Cross River State House of Assembly, Yala II Constituency in the 2023 General Elections.

    F. Baba Isa, Esq.
    FBI LEGAL

  • Ayu Lacks Capacity To Stop Any Candidate From Contesting Election -Wike

    Ayu Lacks Capacity To Stop Any Candidate From Contesting Election -Wike

    Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has challenged Senator Iyorchia Ayu, the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to dare stop any candidate of the party from contesting the 2023 general election if he has such capacity.

    Governor Wike threw up the challenge in Port Harcourt on Sunday at a media parley in reaction to recent comment by Senator Ayu saying that nobody can sack him, and that he has powers to stop any candidate from participating in the 2023 election.

    Governor Wike described such boast by Senator Ayu as evidence of arrogance and impunity because the threat, empty as it is, was directed at the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, who is his benefactor and guarantor when he contested for the party’s national chairmanship position.

    “That also tells you the impunity, I heard when he said he would have stopped (Gov) Ortom from running. You see how ungrateful humans are. This was the same (his) governor Ortom who pleaded with us and said he can take this risk and let him become the national chairman.

    “This is a man who never campaigned anywhere. This is a man who never printed any poster even when they gave him money to print posters. Now, he can even tell you that if he wanted to stop the man (Ortom) who brought him, who became his guarantor. That is the corruption we are talking about

    “He has now come into office. He has seen money. He has seen power. Now, he can open his mouth to say that if he wanted to stop Ortom, he will do it. We dare him. And he said he can also stop any contestant. I dare him. If he is national chairman, I dare him to stop any contestant, if he has what it takes.”

    The Rivers State governor wondered the basis of Senator Ayu’s comment on him being sacked when the issues on ground is the demand for his resignation.

    Governor Wike said nobody has said that Senator Ayu should be sacked. He emphasised that it is important that people understand the difference between being sacked and the call for promises made to be kept.

    “And what we are saying is, as a man of honour, if he (Ayu) has any, keep to your honour, keep to your integrity. So, the issue of people sacking him does not arise.

    “All we are saying is, keep to the agreement, yes, in order for our party to show inclusivity, to show in our party that we are not marginalising any zone. That if the presidential candidate comes from the north as it has come from the north, then the national chairman will come from the south.

    “So, saying that nobody can sack him does not arise. Nobody has said he must be sacked. For you to be sacked, there are procedures for sacking people.”

    Governor Wike stressed that the call for the resignation of Senator Ayu is in agreement with the letter and spirit of the party’s constitution.

    The governor explained that the party’s constitution clearly spelt it out that the positions of the national chairman of the party and the presidential candidate cannot be of the same zone as currently is the case.

    “By our party’s constitution, there must be zoning for elective and political offices. He had said, knowing fully well that there was no way the presidential candidate and the national party’s chairman should come from one zone, that if the presidential candidate comes from the north I (he) will resign to allow the south to produce the national chairman.

    “If at this point in time, you’re the national chairman of the party who has told Nigerians that this is what you’ll do if this happens, and now that has happened and you’re running away from doing that, so, how do you think that Nigerians will believe you assuming you try to tell them to vote for your party.”

    Governor Wike said it is really up to Senator Ayu if he is still hell bent not to tread the path of honour in keeping his promise. He has however, advised Senator Ayu to be wary of whatever that is giving him confidence.

    “What we are saying is that we want our party to win. But if you think you can do without keeping to the promises you have made, so be it.”

    Speaking further, Governor Wike pointed to the fact that one of the reasons why Senator Ayu has been reluctant to leave office is because he wants to continue to superintendent over the PDP finances despite having failed to give account of how party primaries funds were expended.
    “Why does he not want to resign? He is hoping that Nigerians will donate money to the party so he will superintendent over that money.

    “He has already finished the one of N11 billion from party’s primaries. Account for it, he says it is in the account. Show the public the account. Print out the statement of account of PDP and let the world see how the N11 billion was expended.

    “And this is the party that all of us have laboured to takeover power from the ruling party that we said has done badly. And then the national chairman will open his mouth to talk about stopping contestants. Ayu shouldn’t say so. He tried it in Rivers State. He came to manipulate and try to put some gubernational aspirants, but he saw the result. We dealt with him.”

    Governor Wike mocked those who are saying that they can do without the five PDP governors demanding for inclusivity in the party.

    The governor reminded them that votes are not cast in the media, neither are elections won there, but in the units, local governments and States where those five governors are at home with their people. According to him, the outcome of the elections will surprise them.

    The governor also took a swipe at Dele Momodu, who only joined the PDP during the presidential primaries. he further mocked him for securing only one vote as presidential aspirant during the primaries.

    The Rivers State governor said he will never allow anybody to use his name to become relevant as Osita Chidoka is trying to do.

    Governor Wike stated when Chidoka was once denied the party’s governorship ticket in his State, he left the PDP to another.

    Governor Wike maintained that he is a different breed of a politician, who do not and will not abandoned his party, but has resolved to remain in it to fight for inclusivity.

  • Atiku, Ayu Unsettled As Wike’s Camps Push For PDP NEC Meeting

    Atiku, Ayu Unsettled As Wike’s Camps Push For PDP NEC Meeting

    The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has received a fresh turn as political camp loyal to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has been making push for a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party.

    VANGUARD reports that some allies of Wike within the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and some state chapter chairmen of the PDP in the South may have been facilitating the push for the NEC meeting as part of moves to send the embattled National Chairman of the party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu packing from office.

    Recall that Ayu has been insistent that nobody can remove him as the chairman of the party.

    Addressing a crowd of supporters in Gboko, his hometown in Benue during the weekend, Ayu had said he is capable of stopping any candidate of the party, who is vying on the platform of the PDP from achieving their ambitions if he decides to reciprocate the attacks on him from some quarters.

    Ayu and Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state have been crossed over the latter’s alignment with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State in the call for the resignation of the PDP chairman.

    The calls for Ayu’s resignation has been heightened by some prominent chieftains of the party, some allies of Wike and other dissatisfied members of the PDP are hatching a fresh plot to unseat him.

    The PDP NEC meeting, it was gathered, that some governorship candidates of the PDP will publicly demand the resignation of the National Chairman of the party and support the plan for a NEC meeting.

    A governorship candidate from the southeast is quoted to have said, “Most of the candidates of the party, especially in the south, are worried about the current developments in the party.

    “Like Wike and his people have argued several times, it is unclear how our presidential candidate, Abubakar Atiku and Ayu, the National Chairman, want us to sell the PDP to our people in the south.

    What are we to tell them is in the party for us? How do we tell them to vote for a party that is carrying on as if the south does not matter? These are the challenges we face currently.

    “And as candidates who are desirous of winning elections, we can no longer afford to keep quiet on this matter. We have met the gladiators and appealed to them to put the general interest of the party over and above all other interests.

    “But is appears no one is interested in our plight. We have resolved to take our fate in our hands by speaking out.”

    The governorship hopeful further informed that the call for the resignation of the National Chairman is not abating, urging Ayu to consider the interest of the party and sheathe his sword.

    He said, “There is no reason why he can’t resign in the interest of the party. He is a father to all of us and our political future should be more important to him than anything else.

    “This is our position and that is why we are ready to support the move for a NEC meeting in search of a resolution of this matter ahead of the 2023 election.

    “We are in support of the call for a NEC meeting. We must sit down as a party and discuss this matter again. We cannot continue to pretend that it is not hurting our aspirations in our various states.”

    Meanwhile, Vanguard gathered that some members of the NWC, who are dissatisfied with Ayu, have mooted the idea of getting the party to summon a NEC meeting as soon as possible.

    According to sources, “As at the close of work on Friday, we have more than half of the NWC membership on our side. The plan to have a NEC meeting that will revisit the crisis in the party is waxing stronger.

    “Soon, it will be difficult for anybody to continue to ignore the dissatisfaction of members of the committee with our National Chairman.

    “Many state chapter chairmen are also in support of the decision that we discuss this matter as a family and take a decision while putting the interest of the party over and above all personal and group considerations,” he said.

    Another source, said “if he got a vote of confidence and the crisis within the party went from bad to worse, then it is important that we re-examine the issues.

    “It is the same people who gave the vote of confidence we are calling on to come and see how far that decision has taken us as a party ahead of the 2023 general elections.”

  • C’River PDP Northern Stakeholders Berates Ayade Over Wike Visit

    C’River PDP Northern Stakeholders Berates Ayade Over Wike Visit

    BY Judex Okoro, Sunnewsonline

    The Director General of Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe Campaign Organisation, Dr Don Cklaimz Enamhe, and Cross River North People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stalwarts have blasted Governor Ben Ayade over his visit to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.

    They characterised Ayade’s as not only a mark of desperation to return to the Senate but a calculated attempt to woo Wike over to his side ahead of the 2023 polls.

    Since late yesterday, a group picture of Governors Ben Ayade, Dave Umahi and Wike during their visit to Port Harcourt have been trending, fuelling speculations that Ayade, the APC north senatorial candidate, is up to some political gimmicks.

    Describing such moves as the last kick of a dying horse, the Director-General of Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe Campaign Organisation, Dr Don Cklaimz Enamhe, stated that it is possible that Governor Ayade had discreetly gone there to negotiate for his senate seat not minding his public utterances against Wike.

    Enamhe recalled that on several occasions the Cross River governor has, since his defection to All Progressives Congress (APC) in June 2020, lampooned the state chapter of PDP and its leadership of being a surrogate to the Rivers governor just as he has declared total war against the party.

    The university of Calabar don, also alleged that Ayade is discreetly and desperately making moves to reach out to the PDP’s presidential candidate, Alh. Atiku Abubakar, to negotiate his way back to the Upper Legislative Chamber, adding that Jarigbe’s campaign organisation is keeping a tab and would do everything possible to scuttle any further attempt to undermine north’s interest in 2023.

    Enamhe, a foundation member of PDP, said: “Going by past antecedents, Governor Ayade has no right to visit Governor Wike because he (Ayade) has been making comments deriding Wike and PDP in the state.

    “It seems he has eaten his vomit or shall we say he is also trying to mortgage the state to Rivers as he accused the party a couple of months back while soliciting support for APC.

    “However we assure all that all discreet moves by Ayade would come to nought because we have declared total and unalloyed support for Sen. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe. Besides, the north knows their true sons and leaders and we would speak during the general elections as no amount of tricks and genuflecting would change our focus to re-elect Jarigbe.”

    Wondering what took Ayade to Rivers, four months to the general election, a party stalwart from Yala, Chief Emmanuel Ogbeche, 53, said the party leaders in the north would meet to review Ayade’s recent moves, cautioning the national leadership of PDP to be wary of hobnobbing with politicians from Cross River engaging in anti-party activities.

    On his part, Ntufam Justine Abang, from the Ogoja chapter, expresses surprise that after Ayade had declared PDP dead in the state and that APC would sweep all the seats, he surreptitiously visited Wike, a PDP governor, and his arch-enemy, to curry favour.

    Describing Governor Wike as an old political war horse, Abang said the visit would not change the good works Rivers governor is doing to ensure the survival of the PDP in Cross River and assured that the party would deliver Sen. Jarigbe and other PDP candidates in the north.

  • Just In: Court Strikes Out Criminal Case Against Cross River PDP Reps Candidate, Four Others

    Just In: Court Strikes Out Criminal Case Against Cross River PDP Reps Candidate, Four Others

    By Jonathan Ugbal, CrossRiverWatch

    Justice Rosemary Dugbo Oghoghorie of the Calabar division of the Federal High Court has struck out a criminal case filed by the Federal Government against the House of Representatives candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, for the Obudu/Obanliku/Bekwarra federal constituency in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Akpanke, and four others.

    Justice Dugbo in her ruling said the prosecution needed to get its house together and not waste the time of the Court.

    Charges bordering on murder, terrorism, attempted murder, and unlawful possession of firearms was preferred against Mr. Akpanke, his co-aspirants, KJ Jedy Agba, Elaunire Ushie, a House of Assembly Aspirant, Augustine Agba, and one Joseph Akin following the death of a Police officer, Inspector Emmanuel Mbang Ubi who was shot at the botched May 23, 2022, House of Representatives primaries in Obudu.

    The case with Suit Number FHC/CA/14C/2022 was filed on September 6, 2022, and was listed for arraignment and plea on Wednesday.

    But, after it was called up, and appearances entered by the prosecution and defense counsels, Justice Dugbo asked the prosecutor, Edosa Esq whether his witnesses were in Court which he replied no. The Court also asked about the defendants who the prosecutor said were not in his custody.

    Justice Dugbo also complained that the charge sheet in the Court’s file was not clear enough to which the prosecutor replied that the charges have been amended. Justice Dugbo also asked whether the amended charges were in the Court’s file as she could

    Justice Dugbo subsequently struck out the case.

    This means that the Federal Government can file fresh charges. It is unclear whether that may be the case with one of the defendants still in Police custody.

    The Case

    Mr. Ubi, alongside his colleagues, was drafted to secure the venue of the House of Representatives Primary of the PDP in Obudu on May 23, 2022, which was canceled after he was shot dead at close range while a colleague was also injured. The primaries were rescheduled and later canceled with Mr. Akpanke winning both.

    The quintet above were then invited, interrogated, and charged to Court. They were initially billed to take their pleas on October 12, 2022. But, Justice Dugbo’s absence led to the parties taking a different date off-record.

    Mr. Akin, Akpanke, Agba Jedy, and Ushie were listed as the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth defendants respectively. While Mr. Akin was charged with killing Mr. Ubi, Messrs KJ, Akpanke, Agba, and Ushie were accused of conspiracy to commit a felony and unlawful possession of firearms.

  • Court Sets November 24th For Judgment On Suit Seeking Disqualification Of Cross River APC Guber And Deputy Guber Candidates

    Court Sets November 24th For Judgment On Suit Seeking Disqualification Of Cross River APC Guber And Deputy Guber Candidates

    By Jonathan Ugbal, CrossRiverWatch

    Justice Rosemary Dugbo Oghoghorie of the Calabar Division of the Federal High Court has reserved November 24, 2022, to deliver judgment on a suit by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and its Cross River guber candidate, Senator Sandy Onoh seeking the disqualification of the guber and deputy guber candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, from the 2023 general elections.

    The date was agreed upon by all parties after they adopted their processes during the hearing on Tuesday. The APC, her guber and deputy guber candidates – Senator Bassey Otu and Honorable Peter Odey as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, are listed as first, second, third, and fourth defendants respectively in the pre-election matter with suit number FHC/CA/CS/142/2022.

    The Argument

    The Plaintiffs, via their lead counsel, Mba E. Ukweni SAN while adumbrating after adopting their processes, said two key points formed the gamut of their originating summons. The first was that one needed to be a member of a political party to be fielded as a candidate and the second was that the third defendant has taken the oath of allegiance to the United Kingdom which questions his loyalty to Nigeria.

    He urged the Court not to allow the shifting position of the first defendant who denied the third defendant in their affidavit filed in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/976/2021 whose judgment is now a live appeal matter and is now claiming that he is a member of their party. Furthermore, he urged the Court to grant their prayers, especially on the fact that the first defendant will be deemed to have fallen short of the requirements to participate in the 2023 general elections as what affects the third defendant, impacts his ticket with the second defendant.

    The counsel to the first defendant, Essien H. Andrew SAN prayed the court to grant their preliminary objection which was raised on points of law on the fact that party membership was an internal affair and that the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi since the Electoral Act 2022 did not contemplate the action they filed and as they have not said the fourth defendant failed in carrying out its responsibility.

    On the merit of the originating summons, he argued that the plaintiff was alleging forgery and pointed out that when a crime is alleged in civil procedures, the burden to prove is on the plaintiff which he said the plaintiff has tried to shift to the defendants. He prayed the Court to dismiss the suit.

    Benson Igbanor Esq. who led the argument of the second and third defendants, said they filed a motion of notice to strike out the suit and on the merits of the case, argued that the plaintiff did not controvert the issue of citizenship by birth which is the Constitutional requirement. He said the Oath of allegiance did not detract from the issue of citizenship by birth which confers the third defendant, the right to contest.

    He argued that the process commenced wrongly as the Supreme Court had last Friday held that when hostile pre-election matters with elements of the crime were brought forwards, the best way to commence such a suit was by Writ of Summons. The Court also granted his prayer to file an additional list of authorities to guide the Court.

    The Counsel to the fourth defendant, Matthew Ogwuocha Esq in his submissions averred that Section 28 subsection 1 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as altered had addressed the issue of citizenship by birth which he said the plaintiff have not controverted.

    On membership, he submitted that the fourth defendant does not go beyond the administrative scrutiny of the political parties and that the first defendant complied with relevant positions of the Electoral Act which means the fourth defendant has no option other than to accept the second and third defendants as the nominated candidates. He urged the Court to dismiss the suit.

    In their response on points of law, counsel to the plaintiff submitted that the practice direction of the Court guides the commencement of a suit and prayed the Court to discountenance the Supreme Court judge whose authority was not cited.

    On Locus, Ukweni SAN submitted that there are provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended that make the fourth defendant a clearing house and when weighed with the third schedule of the Constitution, grants the plaintiff’s locus.

    On the issue of waiver to swearing an oath of allegiance by the third defendant, he submitted that it was an exception and specific to the third defendant, hence the onus lies on him to prove that he never swore an oath of allegiance but was granted a waiver.

    Furthermore, he argued that the plaintiff never raised an issue of forgery or perjury, but they relied on the documents submitted and deposed to by the first and third defendants which they also accepted to rely on

  • Court To Hear PDP’s Suit Seeking To Disqualify Cross River APC Guber And Deputy Guber Candidates Tomorrow

    Court To Hear PDP’s Suit Seeking To Disqualify Cross River APC Guber And Deputy Guber Candidates Tomorrow

    By Jonathan Ugbal, CrossRiverWatch

     

    Justice Rosemary Dugbo Oghoghorie who presides over Court 2 in the Calabar Division of the Federal High Court on Monday adjourned to tomorrow, the hearing of a suit that seeks to disqualify the gubernatorial and deputy gubernatorial candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Cross River State from participating in the 2023 general elections.

    The case, with suit number FHC/CA/CS/142/2022 has the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and Senator Sandy Onor as plaintiffs while the APC, Senator Bassey Otu, Honorable Peter Odey and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as first, second, third and fourth defendants respectively.

    The matter which was listed for hearing was stood down after it was called because counsels to the defendants were appearing before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu in Court 1 for a judgment on a suit seeking to replace the current APC guber candidate.

    When it was called again, lead counsel to the plaintiffs, Mba E. Ukweni, SAN said they were ready to proceed. The lead counsel to the first defendant, Essien H. Andrew, SAN said they had filed a preliminary objection which Justice Dugbo said will be taken when the need arises.

    But, counsel to the second and third defendants, Benson Igbanor informed the Court that they had just received the processes of regularization from the plaintiff and they were still within the three days required for them to reply to the plaintiff’s regularization process and on points of law.

    He argued that so long as the Court’s registry was still open and there was nothing such as a half day, they still had time to file their processes.

    While trying to explain further, he was cut off by Justice Dugbo who adjourned the matter to tomorrow for a hearing while ordering the next case to be called.

    The parties are expected to adopt their processes tomorrow and adumbrate some teething issues while judgment will be fixed for another day.

    The suit which was commenced by originating summons raised six questions for determination including whether the APC is eligible to participate in the 2023 guber elections in Cross River without presenting qualified Governorship and Deputy Governorship candidates; whether Senator Otu and Honorable Odey are qualified to contest the guber elections; and whether INEC can publish Honorable Odey’s name as deputy guber candidate of the APC which has in her affidavit in a live appeal matter said he is not their member.

    Also, the plaintiffs are seeking for determination, of whether Mr. Odey is not disqualified to contest as Deputy Guber candidate of the APC, having acquired citizenship in the United Kingdom and lied on oath that he did not do so; whether INEC can legally publish the second and third defendants as candidates if the first two questions are resolved in favor of the plaintiff and whether if any other question is resolved in the plaintiff’s favor will mean that the second defendant is also disqualified from contesting in the 2023 general elections

  • Bassey Otu Wins Owan Enoh As Court Declares Him As Authentic Guber Candidate Of The APC

    Bassey Otu Wins Owan Enoh As Court Declares Him As Authentic Guber Candidate Of The APC

    Culled From Parchment

    The legal tussle to determine who is the authentic gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Party in Cross River State has been completely put to rest.

    In a judgement delivered few moments ago, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the federal high court ruled that Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu was the authentic candidate of the party having met the basic constitutional requirements to contest the position.

    She also ruled that counsel to the 1st defendant has convinced the court that Sen. Otu was fully cleared by his party and scored the highest number of votes at the primary election held in June 2022.

    According to Justice Ojukwu who “ no where in the affidavits submitted by the plaintiff showed that the 3rd defendant was disqualified “

    She ruled that a candidate contesting for a the position of a governor must be a Nigerian, meet the stipulated age requirement and have basic qualification according to the constitution. She said the matter to determine the gubernatorial candidate of a political party is and still remains the right of a political party.

    The judgement effectively lay to rest the contention of who is the authentic candidate of the Cross River State APC.

    Mr. Owan Enoh in a suit number FHC/CA/CS/95/2022 had dragged, the APC, INEC and Sen. Prince Otu to court, demanding among other things, to be declared winner of the May 26 party primaries, citing the fact that 3rd defendant was not duely cleared by the party

  • Jarigbe Agom Releases Funds For Payment Of Bursary To Students Of Cross River Northern Senatorial District In Higher Institutions

    Jarigbe Agom Releases Funds For Payment Of Bursary To Students Of Cross River Northern Senatorial District In Higher Institutions

    BURSARY! BURSARY! BURSARY!

    The Senator Representing Cross River North, SENATOR JARIGBE AGOM JARIGBE, has released funds for the payment of BURSARY to Students from Cross River North, studying in various Tertiary Institutions.

    On that note, The National Presidents( World Wide) of NAOS, NAYLOGS and their counterparts in OBUDU, BEKWARRA and OBANLIKU should get in contact with Mr. Gospell Agom on 09021501669, for briefing.

    We welcome all Students back to School, as we are poised to giving you our support.

    Signed: TEAM JARI MEDIA

  • Sen Jarigbe Agom Takes Campaign To Bishiri South, Bendi 1 And Bendi 2 Wards, Receives Blessings From Royal Fathers

    Sen Jarigbe Agom Takes Campaign To Bishiri South, Bendi 1 And Bendi 2 Wards, Receives Blessings From Royal Fathers

     

    The PDP, Cross River North Senatorial District campaign trail, today hit Bishiri South, Bendi 1 and Bendi 2 Wards of Obanliku LGA and were greeted by mammoth crowds at each venue.

    In Bishiri South, the candidates received Royal blessings from HRH Gabriel Odey, Clan Head Amuna Clan Otuhu and all the chiefs present.

    Persons with disabilities were also included in the political process. A sign language interpreter was available to communicate the messages to the hearing-impaired.

    Attesting that most of the youth in the community are engaged through Sen. Jarigbe’s empowerment projects. The people of Bishiri South declared, “We will vote all PDP candidates because of Sen. Jarigbe who we consider the Governor of Cross River North and our votes will be a vote of ‘Thank you’ and appreciation for all he has done because the power of appreciation translates to more miracles and good works for our people.”

    HRH Chief Augustine Azikele, Clan Head of Bendi Ward, was happy to receive the son of the soil, Ambassador Akpanke Peter and his Team into the political ward of Ambassador Peter Akpanke.

    Sen. Jarigbe Agom reminded the people of his relationship with the ward when he said, “I am a friend of Bendi. I was part of Sen. Musa Adede’s journey through thick and thin. We worked tirelessly for his victory during his active days in politics.”

    The people of Bendi 1 claimed deep ownership and identification with the PDP, acknowledging that their prayers have been answered. They pledged to support Sen. Jarigbe, their sons Ambassador Akpanke and Chief Pius Ashiaka, and all other candidates in the team.

    In Bendi Ward 2, the team was warmly greeted by HRH Afu A. Afu, Clan head of Bendi South, who led the other chiefs in blessing the candidates and praying for their success.

    In attendance were: the PDP Senatorial Candidate of the Northern District, Sen. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, the state party chairman, Barr. Vena Ikem; the state assembly candidates, Chief Pius Ashiaka (Obanliku) and Mr John Ukwu (Obudu); DG Jarigbe Campaign Organization, Dr DC Enamhe; Barr Godwin Offiono Ogoja/Yala federal constituency; Ambassador Peter Akpanke, Obudu/Obanliku/Bekwara federal constituency; Barr Omang Charles Omang, Bekwara state constituency; Hon Rita Agbo Ayim, Ogoja state constituency; Dr Paul Ebiala Esq, Yala 1 state constituency and Dr Achadu Martins, Yala 2 state constituency.