Tag: #Alphonsus Eba

  • Just In: Former Cross River State APC Chairman, Alphonsus Ogar Eba Dumps APC, Returns To PDP

    Just In: Former Cross River State APC Chairman, Alphonsus Ogar Eba Dumps APC, Returns To PDP

     

    I HAVE HEARD YOU.
    I HAVE LISTENED TO MY HEART.
    I HAVE ANSWERED

    ‘’Every generation must out of relative obscurity discover its mission, To fulfill or Betray ‘’- Frantz Fanon

    In obedience to the will of our people and in total submission to my inner heart, guided by the direction of Almighty God, I have reflected and reexamined my mission on earth – a clear mission to fulfill destiny.

    From the cradle , particularly , my days of INFANT ACTIVISM, through my days of YOUTH ACTIVISM coupled with STUDENT ACTIVISM into JUDICIAL ACTIVISM and to my present day POLITICAL ACTIVISM which is rooted in POLITICAL EVANGELISM , I have seen the hands of God in everything I do because my trust has always been in God and God alone.

    My incursion into politics in 1991 in SDP during the 3rd Republic and in 1996 in UNCP in the aborted 4th Republic and in PDP in 1999 in the 4th Republic with a short detour to NDP in 2023, ANPP in 2011 , before my return to PDP in 2012 and later APC in 2021 , points to the incontrovertible fact that political parties are indispensable vehicles to drive the democratic process since the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not provide for Independent candidates

    What has however remained fundamentally constant in my political life is the grace of God upon me which is loaded in the superabundant gifts of Hardwork, Humility, Honesty, Courage, Capacity, Competence , Confidence, Contentment, Gratitude and Intrepidity.

    Armed with the above qualities, I have always viewed my political mission as nothing more than Service to God and humanity.

    The great Philosopher, Socrates once said, ‘’An unexamined life is not worth living’’. I have therefore had to reflect on my last 10 years in public service , first as Director General of Due Process and Price Intelligence Bureau, Cross River State and later as Cross River State Chairman of APC . In both offices, reputedly, I left indelible marks in Governance and the party administration which has been highly acknowledged even by our worst critics.

    I have also reflected on the goodwill I enjoyed from our people across party lines and the unprovoked ill treatment meted to me and several leaders / followers by a system we worked so hard to install.

    But in all of these, our gratitude to God in Heaven , our political godfathers , godsons and all whose prayers, supports and kind wishes saw us through will never be forgotten.

    It is on record that , we decided to let go the unwarranted and unprovoked treatment meted to us and even when i have maintained a stoic and dignified silence, our silence was interpreted as cowardice.

    Even when we overlooked the illegal suspension and expulsion by my colleagues at the State Executive Committee of APC and the desperate dissolution of my leadership at the APC NEC on the 19th of December 2025 , which was just a decoy to remove me from office in flagrant disobedience of a subsisting Order of Court in my favour ; and despite keeping away from every APC activities and the attendant humiliation meted to me and my supporters from the ward to the state level ; even when I have since returned to my private legal practice in Abuja and quietly facing my farm work / other private businesses and having more time with my family, I cannot understand while a system I worked so hard in conjunction with other leaders to install have chosen the wicked path to perpetually silent my voice, completely make me irrelevant and have vowed to retire me from politics even at this young age of 50 when I still have a lot to offer my people, state and Nation.

    The intimidation and attack against me and my people and other persons who are non aligned with the system, has given me serious concerns and cause to worry about our collective future under this present democratic experience in our dear State.

    In the face of the unfolding quandary, I have looked up to God for direction, I have listened to the cries of my sincere supporters , whose loyalty especially in the last six (6) months of my political travails have been unwavering .

    I have had an appraisal over the invitation from the leadership of 3 different opposition political parties requesting us to commune and strengthen opposition political parties in Cross River State with a view to providing alternative platforms or a unified platform that can assist in holding the system to conform to the tenets of democracy and good governance.

    I have also listened to my inner heart and I have no option but to agree with the words of William Shakespeare in Julius Caesar where he stated , ‘’There is a tide in the affairs of men , which taken at the flood , leads on to fortune. Omitted , all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and miseries; On such a full sea are we now afloat, And we must take the current when it serves ; or lose our ventures ‘’.

    The bible in book of Psalms 37 : 23 says ‘’ ‘’The steps of the righteous are ordered by God’’

    In John 10 : 13 , ‘’Greater Love a man has not than to lay down his life for his friend ; ‘’ his people and his state (emphasis mine).

    While I can no longer maintain my dignified silence in the face of the continuous subjugation and infractions on our Freedom of Expression , Association and Private life , exacerbated by intimidation, oppression and repression of people who hold contrary views against the system; while it is also politically incorrect for me to maintain such silence in the face of public outcry over wanton gluttonous political chicanery and the jiggery pokkery , I decided to withdraw my membership of APC and requested for the delisting of my name from its hard copy and digital register on the 7th May 2026.

    Although my refusal to utter a word or complained in the last 3 years of this system may not be understood by many but it is borne out of tolerance, maturity and loyalty to the system which was flagrantly abused by them but as we commence our new round Political Evangelism to rebuild our new party and the many souls, we hope to win , majority of our people will see how handsomely justifiable this decision is.

    While not everyone is bound to agree with this decision because we majorly play establishments politics in Cross River State.

    Early in life , I was trained to know that extraordinary issues must be treated extraordinarily. I humbly call on our faithful supporters to please align with our vision, join us in this mission, pray for us to succeed in this journey because we have chosen Peace of mind above Pains, Pride over shame, Joy over Agony and Progress over Retrogression for ourselves and the people of our dear communities and Cross River State in general.

    For strategic political reasons, this decision was taken within a very limited consultative compass . I sincerely apologize to all my sincere leaders and followers whom we couldn’t reach before arriving at this decision.

    As a believer, I know that this mission is for our good and the good of our people and at the appropriate time , majority of our people will align to promote a genuine consensus for the liberation of our people from the shackles and manacles of this pestilential and diabolical political practice .

    The real Progressives across political party lines are coming together to redirect the present misdirection in the state .

    The leadership crisis in PDP at the National level has since been resolved by the Supreme Court, the task ahead is to rebuild the party at the state level in all the 3281 poling units , 196 political wards and 18 LGA in Cross River State.

    I have humbly agreed to be one of the beast of burden and prolocutor towards the effectuation of this noble task.

    It is for tasks like this that I was born.

    From dust I came, To dust I shall return.

    From PDP I came , To PDP I have returned .

    May God bless you all.

    Pol. Evg. Alphonsus Ogar Eba, Esq, JP.
    Immediate past APC Chairman CRS.

  • Breaking: APC Crisis Deepens As Protesters Barricades Cross River Office, Demands State Chairman’s Resignation

    Breaking: APC Crisis Deepens As Protesters Barricades Cross River Office, Demands State Chairman’s Resignation

    Culled Cross River Live

    The All Progressives Congress in Cross River State is facing serious crisis as protesters, comprising 35 chapter chairmen and secretaries, have blocked the party’s state office and demanded the resignation of State Chairman, Alphonsus Eba.

    The protesters on Wednesday at the party’s secretariat in Calabar were seen with various placards some of which read “Okadigbo must go”, “The party can’t be starving while you are living large” and “we are tired of your insolence and arrogance”.

    Other placards read “APC in Cross River State deserves a leader not a ruler and terror”, “for the interest of the party in Cross River State you are advised to throw in the towel”, “APC Cross River State deserves fresh air”.

    As at press time, no member of the APC SWC addressed the protesters who barricaded the secretariat and denied any access into and out of the party Secretariat.

    It could be recalled that in a communique presented on Tuesday, 18 APC chapter chairmen and 17 secretaries, represented by High Chief Kelvin Njong, demanded State Chairman Alphonsus Eba’s immediate resignation, citing loss of trust and withholding of three‑month stipends.

    They also alleged an unequal fund allocation by the State party chairman, misappropriation of election‑form proceeds and incitement.

    However, Eba denied the allegations , saying salaries are paid directly to ward executives and chairmen’s pay is withheld pending a probe.

     

  • C’River APC Chairman Fires Back, Alleges ₦60m Fraud By Chapter Leaders

    C’River APC Chairman Fires Back, Alleges ₦60m Fraud By Chapter Leaders

    By Asuquo Cletus 

    The chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Barr. Alphonsus Ogar Eba, has dismissed calls for his resignation by a group of chapter chairmen and secretaries, describing them as individuals “running away from their shadows.”

    Eba, who spoke in reaction to a communiqué issued by the Forum of APC Chapter Chairmen and Secretaries calling for his removal over alleged high-handedness and diversion of party funds, accused the aggrieved officials of embezzling over ₦60 million belonging to the party.

    The forum, led by Kelvin Njong, Chairman of the APC in Boki Local Government Area, had on November 7 issued a communiqué in Calabar alleging that the state chairman withheld stipends meant for party officials at the chapter and ward levels for three months, diverted party funds, and ran the party “as a private estate.”

    But reacting to the claims, Eba described the allegations as “baseless and mischievous,” saying the affected chapter chairmen were being investigated for financial misconduct.

    “They embezzled monies meant for ward executives and some chapter executives running over ₦60 million. They must come and give account for that,” he said.

    The state chairman explained that the party has since adopted a direct payment system, where stipends are paid straight into the bank accounts of all 5,778 party executives across the state to ensure transparency and eliminate mismanagement.

    “We now pay all party executives directly into their accounts, and we have paid all of them up to date. But the 17 chapter chairmen’s salaries are being held until they clear themselves of the fraud alleged against them,” Eba stated.

    He further alleged that some chapter chairmen collect over ₦4 million monthly as dues from local government appointees and another ₦3.6 million from other sources but fail to remit or share the funds equitably among other officials at the ward and chapter levels.

    “They squander these funds, creating a disproportionate salary structure far higher than what members of the state executive committee earn. This is against the spirit of our administration and our commitment to transparency and accountability,” he added.

    Eba maintained that no chapter chairman or group of party officials has the constitutional power to demand the resignation of a state chairman or member of the state executive committee, stressing that the reverse is the case.

    “No chapter chairman has the power to call for the resignation of the state chairman or any member of the state executive. On the contrary, the state executive committee has full powers to discipline and sanction them, and this will be done immediately,” he declared.

    The crisis comes amid growing tension within the party over internal financial management and control of the state structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    Eba reaffirmed his loyalty to the party leader and governor of the state, Bassey Otu, pledging to continue strengthening the APC at all levels for victory in the next election.

     

  • C’RIVER APC Chairman, Alphonsus Eba Welcomes Sen Jarigbe Agom To The Party

    C’RIVER APC Chairman, Alphonsus Eba Welcomes Sen Jarigbe Agom To The Party

    RE : DEFECTION TO APC

    This evening at my residence in Abuja, I received Sen Jarigbe Agom , Senator representing the good people of Cross River North.

    Senator Jarigbe said his mission was to intimate me of his intention to join us in the APC and strengthen the party with the objective of building a united APC in Cross River Northern Senatorial District and the State at large.

    He further informed me of his earlier visits to both President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and our Governor, H. E. Apostle Sen. Prince Bassey Otu to intimate them of same intention.

    As Chairman of the Ruling party APC, I welcomed him to my house and into the party as part of my political evangelical mission. I informed him that the APC is like a church and our doors are opened to everyone provided you abide by our rules and regulations.

    I took the opportunity to correct the false narrative being peddled by some persons that the Distinguished Senator was not welcomed by APC party leadership and stakeholders.

    I encouraged him to consult widely with the party leadership and critical stakeholders at the ward, chapter and state level to build cohesive political congeniality that engenders our core values of Peace, Love, Unity and Growth ( PLUG ) which is the pivot of my political evangelism and the nucleus of the fundamental objectives and directive principles of our administration.

    I wish to use this medium to appeal to all party faithful to avoid comments that breeds disunity.

    Once again, Sen. Jarigbe and everyone who is still in opposition but intends to join the APC is welcomed and I urge all ward chairmen to open the register of the party to enable everyone register pending our E registration exercise.

    Our focus on building a strong, united and indivisible party is for the common good of everyone.

    Long Live APC
    Long Live CRS
    Long Live FRN

    Signed

    Pol. Evg. Alphonsus Ogar Eba esq, JP.
    APC chairman, Cross River State

  • Obono-Obla Berates CRS APC Chair, Rejects Elder Advisory Council Appointment

    13 October 2024

    Barrister Alphonous Ogar Eba,JP
    State Chairman
    All Progressives Congress Cross River State Chapter
    State Secretariat
    Murtala Mohammed Highway
    Calabar,Cross River State
    Nigeria

    Dear Mr Chairman,

    Rejection of Appointment as Member of a Purported Senatorial Elders Advisory Council (Central) Yakurr Local Government Area.

    My attention has been drawn to a press release signed by the State Chairman and State Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Cross River State dated 12 October 2024, where my name was listed No 8 as a member of the said Council to represent Ijiman Ward in Yakurr Local Government Area.

    I take a serious exception to my purported appointment, which is calculated to diminish my status as one of the foundation members of the APC at the National, Senatorial, Local Government Area, and Ward levels of the Party since 2013.

    It is also pertinent to state that I was the pioneer National Legal Adviser, Member of the Board of Trustees (June 2009 to 31 December, 2010), Deputy National Secretary, Secretary (4 January 2011 to 31 July 2013), and Secretary/Member of the Merger Commitee of the defunct Congress For Progressives Change (CPC) between February 2013 to July 2013.

    Most importantly, I was the Co-Secretary of the Joint Inter Party Merger Committee that negotiated the formation of the APC in 2013.

    Finally, I raised an objection several days ago to the constitutionality of the purported Senatorial Elder Advisory Council (Central). For the avoidance of any doubt, I boldly submit that the said Senatorial Elders Advisory Council (Central) is an organ or structure unknown to the APC Constitution (2013) (as amended). I, therefore, reject and decline membership of the purported Senatorial Elders Advisory Council (Council) and the Yakurr Local Government Area Caucus of the APC.

    Yours sincerely

    Obol Okoi Obono-Obla

    C.C

    His Excellency
    Senator Bassey Edet Otu
    Governor
    Cross River State of Nigeria
    Governor’s Office
    Hope Waddel Avenue
    Calabar,
    Cross River State

    Mr Patrick Asuquo
    State Secretary
    All Progressives Congress Cross River State Chapter
    State Secretariat
    Murtala Mohammed Highway
    Calabar,Cross River State
    Nigeria

  • Obono-Obla Writes Gov Otu, Calls For The Suspension Of APC State Chairman, Alphonsus Eba

    A former President Buhari Aide and foundation member of the All Progressive Congress APC, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, has called on Gov Bassey Otu to to intervene and direct the appropriate organ of the Party to immediately initiate disciplinary proceedings against Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Eba or in the alternative the State Exco convene a meeting to consider whether or a vote of no confidence should not be passed on Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Eba or I will seek legal means to remove him from office as State Chairman of All Progressive Congress Cross River State Chapter.

    Obono-Obla in a letter addressed to Gov Otu on 9 September 2024, and made available to TheLumineNews stated among other allegations that Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Eba wrote an incendiary piece on his Facebook and other social media page titled Open Letter to Mr President calculated to promote ill feelings, incitement, and hostility by the populace against the APC Federal government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    The letter reads in full:

    “His Excellency
    Senator Bassey Edet Otu
    Governor
    Cross River State of Nigeria
    Governor’s Office
    Hope Waddel Avenue
    Calabar, Cross River State
    Nigeria

    His Excellency,

    “WHY BARRISTER ALPHONSUS OGAR EBA SHOULD BE SUSPENDED AS STATE CHAIRMAN, ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS CROSS RIVER STATE CHAPTER

    “I write to you in your capacity as the Governor of Cross River State of Nigeria and the Leader of the All-Progressive Congress Cross River State Chapter and the South South Zone of Nigeria to bring to your attention the quiet crisis rocking our Party quietly but which would soon fester into a major one if decisive step (s) is not taken now to nip it in the bud. The State Executive Committee of the Party led by Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Eba is atrophied, rudderless, and has reached it menopause and has to leave when the ovation is still louder.

    “I therefore respectfully implore you to intervene and direct the appropriate organ of the Party to immediately initiate disciplinary proceedings against Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Eba or in the alternative the State Exco convene a meeting to consider whether or a vote of no confidence should not be passed on Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Eba or I will seek legal means to remove him from office as State Chairman of All Progressive Congress Cross River State Chapter.

    “MY REPRESENTATION TO HIS EXCELLENCY IS HINGED ON THE FOLLOWING GROUNDS:

    “1. CREATION OF FACTIONS:
    The APC has splintered into numerous factions in almost 18 local government areas of Cross River State as a result of Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Ebo dictatorial leadership style, which makes internal cohesion, solidarity, and unity practically impossible. Some of these factions enjoy the endorsement and support of Chairman Barrister Alphonsus Eba and cohorts.
    For instance, when I raised the existence of a faction in APC Yakurr Local Government Area known as Yakurr Embassy in an interview granted by me to an online newspaper known as TNT, which enjoys the tacit support, Chairman Barrister Alphonsus Eba falsely asserted that it was a support group.
    However, the said Yakurr Embassy is not registered, neither in Cross River State nor the National as a support group.

    “2. DISCREDITING MR. PRESIDENT’S POLICIES:
    Recently, Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Eba wrote an incendiary piece on his Facebook and other social media page titled Open Letter to Mr President calculated to promote ill feelings, incitement, and hostility by the populace against the APC Federal government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    “During the campaign in 2023, the APC made it quite clear that as part of its economic reform agenda, it would scrap the payment of subsidies on Petroleum products.

    “The hardship and high cost of living the country and its people are passing through presently is a natural consequence of the withdrawal of subsidies on Petroleum products.

    “As the Chairman of APC in Cross River State, Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Eba must align his opinion and public utterances with the policy agenda of the APC Federal government and resist the temptation to pander to the sentiments and narratives been bandied by the opposition to score political points against the government. See attached screenshot of the Facebook page of Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Eba dated 3 September 2024

    “3. VIOLATION AND FLOUTING OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE APC CONSTITUTION:
    Violation and flouting of the provisions of the APC Constitution that the framers of the Constitution deliberately inserted to enhance smooth administration and management of the Party by someone like Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Eba continually since he assumed office is a calculated sabotage, inexcusable and unbecoming.

    “Article 13.8(v)of the APC Constitution 2022 provides that the State Executive Committee Create or appoint such Committee(s) as it may deem necessary, desirable, or expedient and assign to them such powers and functions as it may deem fit and proper, provided that the powers and functions of such Committee(s) shall not conflict with any Committee(s) set up by the National Executive Committee or the National Working Committee.
    As a deliberate failure, refusal and or neglect of Barristers Alphonsus Eba led State EXCO to activate organs and structures created by the Constitution to foster and promote smooth administration of the Party and ensure wide participation of major stakeholders across the State the Party has become purposeless and rudderless and wobbling on the verge of collapse.

    “These organs are the State Caucus (created by Article 12.10 of the APC Constitution); Local Government Area Caucus (created by Article 12.5 of the APC Constitution; and Senatorial District Committee (created by Article 12.2).
    The failure to activate these organs has led to disillusionment and perception of marginalization of the various tendencies that exist within the State Chapter of the Party.

    “For instance, the old members who have been members of the Party from 2013 to those who joined in 2017 on one hand and to those who defected from PDP in 2021 on the other hand are estranged and in a State of cold war because of the failure to activate these organs that would have used to harmonized these two tendencies and give each of them a sense of belonging.

    “4. LACK OF MEETINGS AND INCLUSIVITY:
    The State Exco led by Barrister Alphonsus Eba has a penchant of non-conducting or convening meetings of both the State Executive and Working Committees, which amounts to a contravention of the Party Constitution. See Article 25 of the APC Constitution,2022.

    “5. STIFLING OF INTERNAL PARTY DEMOCRACY:
    The State Exco led by Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Eba recently banned all members of the APC in Cross River State from holding meetings to ventilate their fundamental human rights to assembly, hold opinions and express themselves on matters concerning their well beings as members of the Party. This is against the fundamentals, traditions, and principles of Party democracy. Constructive engagement, consensus building, and discussions among Party members are requisite ingredients of democracy that should not be stifled under any guise.

    “6. LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY:
    The State Exco led by Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Eba has demonstrated a capacity and propensity for opaque and clandestine conduct and management of the affairs of the APC. Even though 2023, the campaign for the 2023 general election ended since March 2023 and the subsequent inauguration of the President, Governors, and members of the States and National Assemblies the State Exco has bluntly refused to render account for funds that are accrued to the party during the 2022 primary elections. Also, the State Exco has refused, failed, and / or neglected to account for other assets belonging to the Party, including the bus donated to the Party during the 2023 campaigns. Finally, refusal to call for a meeting to examine the fortunes of the Party after the 2023 general elections.

    “7. ARROGANCE:
    The Chairman, Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Eba, and his Exco have a predisposition of talking down and using uncouth and coarse language on elders and senior members of the party who critics their leadership style in extreme display of unbridled arrogance and haughtiness. For instance, one of the State Exco members recently referred to Chief Okoi Obono-Obla as self-claimed ex presidential aide.

    “It is on record that Chief Obono-Obla was a senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari from April 2016 to 29 May 2019. Failure to activate the Constitutional Organs of the Party in the State. The State Exco led by Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Eba has deliberately failed, refused, and neglected to activate organs created under the Constitution to enhance internal democracy and fostering of transparency, accountability, smooth administration management of the affairs of the Party and participation of a wide and broad spectrum of the party.

    “8. Over 10,000 bags of Rice donated by Minister of Sports Development under the Renewed Hope Initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration:
    Recently, the Minister of Sports Development donated over 10,000 bags of Rice under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu renewed Hope initiative for distribution to vulnerable people in the state. These bags of rice were handed over to the leadership of the APC in the state.

    “However, the leadership, when pressured to give account on how the rice was distributed, admitted in a letter written to Senator John Owan Eno dated 4 September 2024 by Hon. Emmanuel Edem Inyang, State Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress, Cross River State Chapter claimed that 732 bags of rice received, 196 bags were shared to the Ward Chairmen across the State, while 27 bags were shared to Chapter Executive members in each of the 18 Local Government Area Chapter Executive totalling 486 bags and 50 bags to State and Zonal Executive Committee members respectively.

    “This is not despicable and nauseous corruption, which is unbecoming of Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Eba’s Exco to decide to share these bags of rice only to party bureaucrats and executives rather to the ordinary members of the Party that it was meant.

    “In the light of the above, we pray His Excellency to cause Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Eba to proceed on suspension until the allegations made against him as encapsulated above is properly investigated or in the alternative a disciplinary proceeding should commenced by the appropriate executive Committee or organ of the Party against him.

    “Accept the assurances of my highest regards.

    “Yours sincerely
    Obol Okoi Obono-Obla.

    “CC:
    Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru,PhD
    National Secretary
    All Progressives Congress
    National Secretariat
    40 Blantyre Cres, Wuse 2, Abuja
    Federal Capital Territory
    Nigeria”.

  • DG BORDERCOM Felicitates Alphonsus Eba, Others

     

    The Director General Cross River State Border Communities Development Commission, Mr. Noel Ugbong congratulates the newly elected APC State Chairman, Bar. Alphonsus Eba Ogar and other State EXCO Members on their successful election.

    He described Bar. Alphonsus as a polished, witty and sagacious young man with a humongous propensity to giving back to humanity.

    In a statement, made available to TheLumineNews, the DG commended the Leader of the party in the State, Sir Ben Ayade for leading the party through a successful State Congress.

    He further praised the team-spirit and great sense of brotherliness showcased by the principal stakeholders of the party in ensuring a hitch free Congress.

    He enthused that such spirit of oneness is a clear indication that the APC in Cross River State is positioned to have an uninterrupted reign in the Government House beyond 2023.

    He enjoined other Party faithfuls to rally round the newly elected Officials in cementing the reign of the Party in the State and beyond.