The Lumine News

Tag: #APC

  • Court Orders C’River Assembly To Pay Withheld Allowance To PDP Lawmakers

    Court Orders C’River Assembly To Pay Withheld Allowance To PDP Lawmakers

    Culled from the Parchment

    Justice Nnang Isoni of the Cross River State High Court, Calabar has ordered the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly and the Clerk of the house to immediately pay the allowances owed some members of the state assembly who refused to defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
    In a consent judgement, Justice Isoni submitted that the lawmakers being elected members of the state house of assembly, were entitled to their allowances and therefore directed that their allowances be paid to them.
    The Court also restrained the leadership of the house from suspending or attempting to suspend the lawmakers until the expiration of their tenure in office.

    The seven (7) PDP lawmakers who refused to defect to the APC had dragged the leadership of the house to court for refusing to pay their allowances.
    The members, Rt Hon Efa Esua, Calabar municipal State constituency, Rt Hon Friday Okpechi, Obubra 1, Hon Francis Ovat, Obubra 2, Rt Hon Fredrick Osim, Ikom 1, Rt Hon Itam Abang, Boki, Rt Hon Nelson Ofem, Yakuur 1 and Elizabeth Ironbark, Akpabuyo state constituency had prayed the court to compel the house leadership to pay them their allowances.

    Hon. Elizabeth Ironbar later died in October 2021.

    Findings by The Parchment reveals that the judgement which was delivered on February 7, 2022, is however yet to be implemented. One of the APC lawmakers who pleaded not to be mentioned, told our reporter that, despite the rulling, the state governor, Ben Ayade has ordered the house leadership never to pay the lawmakers until they defect to the APC.

    In May 2021, Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade abandoned the People’s Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress. Few weeks after, 18 lawmakers joined the governor and defected to the APC, while the other 7 out of the 25 member house remained in the PDP.

    For refusing to defect to the APC, the Eteng Williams led house of assembly refused to pay the PDP lawmakers their statutory allowances, allegedly on the orders of the State governor, Ben Ayade.

    In a special interview with the The Parchment last September 2021, leader of the house, Hon. Peter Odey had denied that the PDP members were refused their allowances.

    “As far as I am concerned, I know that all what is due them, still gets to them as members of the state house of assembly” Odey told our reporter.

    The recent rulling now exposes Hon. Odey and the house leadership as liars.

    One of the affected PDP lawmakers who spoke with our reporter on the implication of the court ruling said.
    “ The important thing is that we sued them individually, we only Joined the house of assembly because they are members of the house. So what that means is that, in implementing the judgement, we can begin to sieze their properties individually”

    The house leadership led by speaker Eteng Williams had been accused of sharing among themselves over N15 million monthly allowances meant for the seven lawmakers who refused to defect to the APC since May lasted year.

  • Gov Ayade Showers Encomiums On Edem Ekong, Describes Him As A Seasoned And Honest Administrator

    Gov Ayade Showers Encomiums On Edem Ekong, Describes Him As A Seasoned And Honest Administrator

    The Cross River State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade, has described Edem Ekong Esq. as an
    honest and seasoned administrator following a courtesy visit by the latter to formally declare his intention to run for the highest position in the State under the platform of the All Progressive Congress.

    Receiving him and other party faithfuls at the Governor’s office, Ayade expressed his
    satisfaction at the quality of sportsmanship whilst noting that Edem Ekong is not just the first person to notify him of his intention to vie for the Office of the Governor in the forth coming general election, but also the first from the South to declare interest, since the
    Governor’s commitment to return power to the Southern Senatorial District in 2023.

    “When I won my reelection bid, I made a promise that my successor must come from the south. I gave my word and will give my right eye to keep it. The south has always stood by my government, they were the first Senatorial District who asked me to run for a second term. It is only natural that I do.

    Edem is someone who is very honest and someone I have worked closely with; a seasoned administrator with the maturity and temerity to follow through with decisions he believes in”. Governor Ayade asserted.

    Responding, Ekong thanked the governor for his kind words and camaraderie towards
    his gubernatorial aspiration. He indicated his readiness to engage the electorates across the state with a view to conscientise them about his ambition and choice of APC as the preferred vehicle for progress in the state.

    Other party stakeholders in the entourage took turns to speak at the event and opined that Ekong’s wealth of experience gathered over the years from working as Commissioner for Lands and Housing and Local Government Affairs respectively, Special Adviser, Departmento Public Transportation (DOPT) and others, make him an ideal candidate for the job.

  • If Not That Shamelessness Is A Key Ingredient In Nigeria Politics, APC Cross River State Cannot Be Talking About Zoning Now BY FIRST BABA ISA

    If Not That Shamelessness Is A Key Ingredient In Nigeria Politics, APC Cross River State Cannot Be Talking About Zoning Now BY FIRST BABA ISA

     

    #FBIRandomThoughts – Zoning

    1. As elections approach you will hear a lot about zoning and “it is our turn”. Even if you never kn what the hoopla about zoning entails, you will have a fair grasp this period.

    2. I love the concept of zoning. It is the very essence of democracy and the foundation on which participatory democracy is built on. Anyone who doesn’t know this yet, is still a far cry from understanding the concept of democracy as it were or the person is just pretending, to serve ulterior motives. I will come to the deployment of zoning using ulterior motives, presently.

    3. Our present constitution contemplated and enshrined the concept of zoning in several sections; like the sections dealing with Federal Character or the ones mandating the president and governor to make sure their ministers and commissioners come from each state or local government as the case may be.

    4. Clearly, the constitution did not outline a framework for zoning elective positions but the point I’m making is that zoning as it were is not a foreign concept to both democracy in general and our constitution in particular.

    5. Now, the constitutional provision that mandates the President to pick at least one minister from the 36 States of the Federation makes comedy of the thinking that zoning begets mediocrity. Again, this argument is only wielded by folks with a self serving motive. Zoning is not the opposite of competence. This is 2022, there is no state, local government, ward or even village without someone competent to fill an elective position.

    6. If the electorate is ignorant or gullible, they will always elect someone incompetent; if the president or governor is incompetent and ignorant, he will always appoint incompetent people even if he picks them from every village or just one village. Zoning is not to blame.

    7. So, whenever you hear someone say, “we don’t want zoning, we want competence”, that’s the voice of deceit or ignorance talking. Zoning and competence can exist together and there is absolutely no reason why they shouldn’t. Zoning is simply an agitation for equal and fair participation. No more, no less.

    7. If you all agree that it is the turn of my family to produce the next village chief and the kingmakers or voters decided to pick the most incompetent in my family to crown chief, how is that the fault of zoning?

    8. However, we have two major problems with zoning in Nigeria; no clear cut guidelines for its implementation and the insincerity of those who mouth it. I have not seen anyone who truly believes in zoning. It is always a tool of political shenanigans to them.

    9. Let me give you just one example; the Governor of Cross River State. He recently declared that the Governor must come from Southern Cross River State based on the principle of zoning. He has been applauded as an advocate of zoning. But is he? No. Definitely not. Why? The man has a presidential ambition. He confirmed that himself.

    10. If the two major political parties are zoning their presidential ticket to the south, then it should go to the South East. An Igbo man or woman should be president. The South West has taken before, the South South has taken, so it should go to the South East. But here is a South South Governor, who is being touted as an apostle of zoning, being asked about his presidential ambition, and instead of him to say “No, I’m an advocate of zoning, so it is the turn of the South East…” But, my guy said, “I’m ready if my party wants me.” Can you imagine the insincerity.

    11. His aides and supporters in Cross River State are busy sharing his posters for president and shouting #BackToSouth for the governorship position. If double standard had a face. Even in their back to South campaign, it is the Efik, who had produced a Governor that are angling for it. Is that the spirit of zoning? No. It should go round the local governments, wards and tribes.

    12. It is even laughable that the APC, the Governor’s party today, is talking about zoning. In the last election, the Governor who is from the North was running for reelection and the APC fielded two candidates from two factions and both were from the Central! If not that shamelessness is a key ingredient in Nigeria politics, APC Cross River State cannot be talking about zoning now.

    13. So, you see, the concept of zoning, without watertight guidelines for its implementation, will remain good as an ideology but wobbly in practice. So, as much as I love the concept, it is difficult to practice. You don’t even know when someone is using it to hoodwink you.

    14. I have, therefore, resolve to promote this as much as I can but not to split unnecessary hairs about it. I will always consider it but I will not put it first in my consideration for choosing someone for an elective position. That’s why you might see me rooting for someone from the North or Central of Cross River State for Governor if they meet other terms and conditions far above the person from the South.

    15. Look out… Make person no use your head. Zoning has conveniently become a tool of political yahoo yahoo.

    – Written By Firsts Baba Isa (FBI)

     

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are strictly that of the author, First Baba Isa Esq and does not represent TheLumineNews or the organization the author works for.

  • Concerned Constituents Writes Governor Ben Ayade, Insists On Level Playing Ground For Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency

    Concerned Constituents Writes Governor Ben Ayade, Insists On Level Playing Ground For Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency

    *OPEN LETTER TO*:

    1. His Excellency, Senator Prof Ben Ayade (Leader of APC South South)

    2. Barr. Alphonsus Eba
    (Indefatigable Chairman-elect, Cross River State APC)

    3. APC Leaders and Stakeholders Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency.

    *BEFORE THIS SHIP SINKS*

    *Preamble*:
    We are foundation members and concerned card carrying members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) drawn from Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency. In view of the forthcoming general election and in furtherance of our resolve and commitment to the party towards winning the general election in Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency, we are constrained to bring to your attention an imminent political danger and a seeming harbinger of doom, should the party continue to steer her ship towards the precipice in Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency. As Patriotic and Passionate Party Faithfuls, we owe our party a duty to draw her attention to situations capable of jeopardizing the Party’s chances of winning the next election in Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency and to forestall an apparent act of anti-party activities amongst party faithfuls.

    *OUR OBSERVATION*
    We find it very worrisome that the leadership of our great party, appears to have ceded the party ticket to Hon. Mike Etaba for a 3rd term in the Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency against the interest and wish of Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency. As Party members, we understand that Hon. Mike Etaba has shown immense loyalty and support to the leadership of our great party, which has fetched him a 2nd term into the National Assembly, even against the wish of the people. For his show of loyalty, we dare say that 8years in the house of Reps is already a good compensation for him and the people of Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency do not intend to extend his stay in the National Assembly with another unfruitful 4years. For the Obubra People, specifically, the 8years spent by Hon. Mike Etaba at the National Assembly appears to be a total waste as there is no commensurate effort or democratic dividend from his part to his people, and we do not intend to continue in this style of retrogressive Politics. For almost 8years in the National Assembly, Hon. Mike Etaba has not contributed meaningfully to any debate on the floor of the National Assembly. He appears to be too elusive on the floor of the National Assembly, and we do not intend to continue in that trajectory, as Obubra/Etung Legislators are known to be quintessential on the floor of the National Assembly.

    Furthermore, we wish to warn that should Hon. Mike Etaba or any other lackey be given the ticket of our party, we stand a chance of losing outrightly to the opposition, and we do not pray for such to happen. Presently, the opposition Party, PDP parades formidable aspirants for the position of House of Reps and we make bold to say that, should our party decide to fly Hon. Mike Etaba, we are cocksure that even as a sitting House of Reps member, Hon. Mike Etaba cannot withstand any of the PDP’s Aspirants. It is on record that in 2019, he lost woefully on the field.

    Emphatically, PDP has the following Persons as frontline Aspirants,
    1. Rt. Hon. Fabian Okpa
    2. Mr. Ken Egbas
    3. Barr. Innocent Chima
    4. Rt.Hon. Friday Okpechi.
    It is therefore apparent to say that we need a new face to fly our party ticket. The people are tired of Hon. Mike Etaba.

    *OUR PRAYERS*
    We humbly solicit for a level playing ground for all aspirants; and we make the following submissions.

    1. That the Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency leaders be allowed to choose their Candidate.

    2. That Hon. Mike Etaba should not be forced on the people.

    3. That, the inactivity of Hon. Mike Etaba on the floor of the National Assembly has adversely affected our chances on the floor of the National Assembly, and so should not be encouraged by bringing another person who is of the same stock or even worse.

    4. That we need a man with a strong voice on the floor of the National Assembly. Someone with massive goodwill and grassroot support.

    We make this prayers in the best interest of our party in Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency, believing that if our prayers are granted, this sinking ship will be restored.

    Signed:
    Hon. Ntui Victor Omang
    (For: Etung Local Government)

    Chief Okimba Edim
    (For: Obubra Local Government)

    On behalf of the entire members of Concerned APC faithfuls Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency.

  • PDP Rejects Enang Aboli’s Suspension, Says Abi PDP Should Not Be Pushed Too Hard

    PDP Rejects Enang Aboli’s Suspension, Says Abi PDP Should Not Be Pushed Too Hard

    The People’s Democratic Party PDP in Abi Local Government Council has condemned and rejected the purported indefinite suspension of Hon Enang Aboli and the relieved of Hon Smart Isogon of his position as Deputy Majority Leader.

    The two councillors refused to refused to join the APC and have continued to advocate for the PDP.

    In a release sighted by TheLumineNews and signed the Abi Local Government Chapter Chairman, Mr Victor Bassey, indicates that Abi is not a sole proprietorship of the APC.

    The release reads in full:

    Press Release

    The attention of the people’s Democratic Party (PDP) Abi Chapter has been drawn to the purpoted indefinite suspension of Hon. Enang Aboli and the relieved of Hon. Smart Isogon of his position as deputy majority leader
    During a plenary session held at the legislative chamber and was presided by the Deputy Leader of Legislature Hon. Princewill Kanu representing Usumutong/Abeugo today.

    The Abi PDP Chapter condemn and reject this devilish sponsored act and is unacceptable by the Party. We call on those behind this sponsored decision to immediately reverse it and allow peace reign in our Local Government.

    Abi LGA is not a sole proprietorship nor a sole property of APC. Let Abi PDP not be pushed too hard.

    Our warmest regards

    Sign:……🖊️

    Victor Bassey
    PDP Chapter Chairman
    Abi LGA

  • Abi Legislative Council Suspends Hon Enang Aboli Indefinitely

    Abi Legislative Council Suspends Hon Enang Aboli Indefinitely

    By Evans Bassey

    The ABI Local Government Legislature has suspended indefinitely the Councillor representing Igbo Imabana Ward 1, Hon. Enang Aboli.

    During a plenary session held at the legislative chamber and presided over by the Deputy Leader of Legislature Hon. Princewill Nkanu representing Usumutong/Abeugo Ward, Hon. Enang Aboli was suspended following his violation of Section 34 sub 1&2 of the Local Government Law.

    In a motion moved by the majority leader of the house Hon. Sunday Ukata representing Afafanyi/Igonigoni Ward and supported by Hon. Efem Sunday representing Imabana Ward 2, both legislators established that Hon. Aboli Enang had persistently allowed his personal interest to override his official conducts.

    Similarly, Hon. Isogon Smart Okon representing Itigidi Council Ward and the Deputy Majority Leader of the House was relieved of his position as Deputy Majority Leader on the grounds he belongs to the opposition minority party in the State the PDP.

    The motion to relieve Hon. Smart was moved by Hon. Happy Ejom representing Ediba/Anong Ward and was supported by Hon. Monday Ubah of Ebom/Ebijakara Ward.

    Both Councillors were absent during the sitting were this resolutions were reached.

    A total of seven out the ten Councillors that make up the house were present at the plenary.

  • Peter Odey Splashes 5M, 500 Bags Of Rice And 500 Wrappers On Constituents For Christmas

    Peter Odey Splashes 5M, 500 Bags Of Rice And 500 Wrappers On Constituents For Christmas

    By Elijah Ugani

    The member representing Ogoja State Constituency and Leader of the 9th Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Peter Odey has today doled out 5M, 500 bags of rice and 500 wrappers to his constituents drawn from the ten political wards of Ogoja Local Government Area.

    Distributing the items and cash at the Ogoja council hall, the Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Mr Uko Inakwu, commended the gesture of the member of Parliament for recognizing the role of women and for the benevolent spirit to reach out the women, and noted that this is the first of it kind in the history of Ogoja.

    On his part, Mr Odey thanked the Governor, Sen Ben Ayade for providing the fulcrum that has demystified leadership in Cross River State within the last six years.

    He used the opportunity to assure his constituents of effective representation as he wished them a happy Christmas and a prosperous new year in advance “It has been my desire to give you the representation that we all desire and this I have done within the past six years. Today, I have decided to single you out to say thank you for all your support.

    “Let me use this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year in advance. May the love that God had shown us through the birth of Jesus Christ, find a place in our hearts as we share with those in need especially during this Christmas season”

    Most of the beneficiaries who spoke to TheLumineNews expressed joy and satisfaction with the items they received and prayed for the lawmaker and wished him the best even as he completes his stay in office.

    Mrs. Agbo Ogar of Ogoja Urban Ward ii described Mr Odey as God sent as majority of those who benefited from his benevolence had lost hope of what to eat during the Christmas considering the high cost of food stuff in the market.
    She asked God to grant his heart desires.

    Mr Odey had earlier in the month distributed 20 motorcycles to APC ward Chairmen and party stalwart across the ten wards of Ogoja to ease mobilization of party faithfuls.

  • Peter Odey Distributes Motorcycles To Constituents To Aid C’River APC Aggressive Evangelism

    Peter Odey Distributes Motorcycles To Constituents To Aid C’River APC Aggressive Evangelism

    By Elijah Ugani

    The member representing Ogoja State Constituency and Majority Leader of the 9th Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon Peter Odey has distributed 20 motorcycles to party faithfuls as part of his support for the statewide APC Aggressive Evangelism.

    Speaking during the distribution of the motorcycles at Ogoja Local Government Secretariat, Hon Peter Odey maintained that “I have decided to support the advocacy and membership drive of the Cross River State APC by providing these motorcycles to enable you go into the nooks and crannies of Ogoja. We ordered for 40 motorcycles, 20 have been delivered, others are on the way”

    Odey warned that the motorcycles were not meant for commercial cyclist purpose, urged beneficiaries to ensure that there are used for the purpose it is meant. The motorcycles were distributed to the ten ward Chairmen and one other member from each ward.

    He disclosed that women will get their own share of the support on the 24th December, 2021.

    Presenting the motorcycles to the ward Chairmen, the State Party Chairman Elect, Alphonsus Eba Esq, thanked the Chairman of Ogoja LGA, Hon Emmanuel Ishabor and congratulated the Leader of Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon Peter Odinga for his benevolence and magnanimity to aid the aggressive evangelism by the APC.

    Eba maintained that “It is indeed a happy moment of for us. There is no local government area in northern senatorial district with the brand like Ogoja.
    We are here to do an evangelism. We christened our executive a ‘Digital Executive’. Our ward Chairmen needs to carry these bikes to the nooks and crannies of the state.

    “It was at this venue that we gathered and decided that senator Barr Stephen Odey should be our senator.

    “Some criminals gathered and connived with the governor of another state who has no value for money and armtwisted the Judiciary, which I am a part of, and stole our mandate through the backdoor, and this has caused us another pain of going through a bye election.

    “For us, we will not fight them. We have to go for a revenge through the ballot in the forth coming Ogoja/Yala federal constituency bye election. We will retire them. We will go into the election as a united family”

    Referring to the opposition PDP, Eba stated that “Tell them that what they are referring to as empowerment, it is APC federal government project, they are bringing it back to our people, let them not give it back to the people and claim that it is their empowerment.
    That is what they ought to do. Hon Peter Odey is taking from the much God has blessed him to come and do this for our people. It is not awarded by SDGs. This is what we call empowerment, if they don’t know the dictionary meaning of empowerment, tell them to come let me teach them the way I have been teaching them.

    “My dear people of Ogoja, we are gathered and we must be united. That is why we are in the field to show that when we are united, nobody can break us. This is the strength in unity and this is the message we have come to pass.

    “Today we have five persons at every polling unit, the money you collect constantly, #30,000.00 per month across the 196 wards, across the 3221 polling units in Cross River State runs into about one billion naira per month. That is the action of governor Ayade intellectual creativity in conjunction with local government Chairmen. Today, over 27,000 persons have been taken off the road.

    “They gave us food on the table, we are proud of the food on the table. They behave like touts, they go to eat from the scrums from the Port Harcourt table. They want to colonize us and we are saying no. It must be Cross River State first. We do not have any other leader in Cross River State other than Sen Prof Ben Ayade. You must stand behind me, we must stand with him.

    “APC is the new order, we have socketed to the center, this is the only language you want to hear. This is the party that has for the first time as a ruling party given Ogoja and Yala son a state Chairman.

    “Please and please retire them in the bye election by going to the field, vote for the candidate that will come up from this party. We will sit down as a family and take that decision. We will go to the field as a united force”

    Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Chairman, Ogoja Urban Ward 1, Mr Paul Agbeje thanked Hon Peter Odey for the initiative to aid the APC Aggressive Evangelism mantra and promised to put to good use the motorcycle for the benefit not the party. He used the opportunity to thank Hon Peter Odey and wished him success in all his political endeavors.

  • Defection Hits C/River APC As Ex-Deputy Governorship Candidate, Thousand Of Others Dumps Party For PDP

    Defection Hits C/River APC As Ex-Deputy Governorship Candidate, Thousand Of Others Dumps Party For PDP

    Culled from the Sun online, By Judex Okoro – Calabar

    The battle ahead of 2023 in Cross River Cross River is gathering momentum as the former PDP state chairman and APC former deputy governorship candidate, Ntufam Ekpo Okon, and thousands of supporters, especially in the southern senatorial district, have dumped the party for rival PDP.

    Others to join the exodus include the former deputy speaker, Hon. Dominic Edem, Hon. Wilson Ekpeyong, representing Bakassi and Odukpani state constituencies respectively and Bassey O. Bassey, Esq.

    The trio of Okon, Edem and Ekpenyong were all staunch members of PDP and they defected to APC between 2015 and 2019.

    Sources close to APC secretariat disclosed that Ntufam Ekpo and others are said to have already tendered their resignation letters at ward, chapter and state levels. The source added that they might have left the party as most of them were allegedly not carried along in the just-concluded ward, local government and state congresses.

    Their defection is coming barely a month after some APC stalwarts in the northern senatorial district defected to PDP during the thanksgiving ceremony of Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe held at Ogoja and at a time the state executive committee–elect of APC is still embarking on a reconciliatory meeting with some party big-wigs across the state.

    The source further said that APC should expect more defections early next year as most old members are so dissatisfied at the way the new defectors from PDP shoved them aside and took over the party structure from ward to state levels.

    Confirming the return to PDP, a member of executive in Akamkpa ward in Odukpani local government area where Ntufam Ekpo Okon belongs, Chief Bassey Ekpo Bassey, 49, said: ”It is true that our leader, Ntufam Okon has returned to PDP where he was one of the founding members but left because of irreconcilable differences.

    “Today, he has returned home to his roots and we welcome him with open arms. I can tell you that with his return you should expect mass movement because Ntufam Ekpo knows how to mobilise us to victory. So, we are very happy and thank the leadership for really reaching out to old members. As I am talking with you, our Oga Ekpo is already working with PDP leaders on the next move. ”

    Another party chieftain from Bakassi local government area, Elder Emmanuel Inyang, 56, confirmed that Hon Dominic Aqua is also back to PDP after several sojourn in Labour Party and APC, adding that PDP is still the party to beat in Bakassi.

    “We know that APC is trying to manage their internal crisis resulting from the crisis emanating from the party congress. We expect more defectors and we shall all work as a team to reclaim the state from APC. Even at the ward, we have been mobilising and reaching out to our brothers with like minds to come back. Just watch out for a mass exodus from APC to PDP soon,” he stated.

    At the state PDP secretariat located at Mary Slessor Avenue, Calabar, a top party official, who doesn’t want to be quoted, admitted that some wards and chapter executive committee members from Odukpani, Akpabuyo and Bakassi have notified them about the defection of some APC top shots, but are yet to be briefed with regards to the number of people joining the party.

    He further said the party is in high spirit as it has continued to get the support of some APC members who are willing to defect to PDP following the alleged hijack of the party structures by Governor Ben Ayade loyalists and their subsequent alleged marginalisation.

    He disclosed that by Tuesday, December 7, 2021, the party may receive thousands of defectors while moves are on to embark on some ward tour by some party chieftains aimed at sensitising the populace and keeping them abreast of ideals of the new PDP in the state.

    Hailing the party leadership for reaching out to their old members and lobbying them to come back, a PDP stalwart from Obanliku, Chief Chris Agba, said they are working round the clock to reposition the party by reaching out to those who left the party for one reason or the other.

    Agba revealed that more heavyweights from APC would soon defect to PDP, adding that they are still consulting with the likes of Hon Alex Egbona, representing Yakurr/Abi federal constituency, some serving commissioners and former APC executive committee members on the need to return.

  • C’River PDP Describes The Invasion Of Its Secretariat By The APC As A Tragedy Of Lawlessness

    C’River PDP Describes The Invasion Of Its Secretariat By The APC As A Tragedy Of Lawlessness

    By Admin

    The Cross River State chapter of the People Democratic Party PDP has described the invasion of its secretariat by the ruling All Progressive Congress APC as a tragedy of lawlessness.

    In a release made available to The Lumine News and signed by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Prince Mike Ojisi calls on the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 6, Calabar and  heads of all Security Agencies in Cross River State to expeditiously intervene and help restore the rule of law in the face of this brazen and evasive rape of the law by the APC.

    The release reads in full:

    “APC’s Invasion Of Our Party Secretariat: Tragedy of Lawlessness.

    “On Wednesday, 10th November 2021, the peace-loving People of Cross River State were once again greeted by another reckless act of lawlessness orchestrated by the unproductive All Progressive Congress in Cross River State.

    “The Peoples Democratic Party Cross River State received with grave concern the news of the unlawful invasion of our Party’s Secretariat at Murtala Mohammed Highway Calabar, by the yet-to-be inaugurated handpicked State Working Committee of the APC led by the factional Chairman, Barr. Alphonsus Eba. To this end, it has become absolutely imperative and instructive that we address this issue and make it clear that the lawless APC lacks the locus standi to invade the said party Secretariat which is still under contention. It’s also worthy of note to stress that, following the instructions of the AIG Zone 6 for both parties to stall administrative duties in the Secretariat until investigation into the matter is properly concluded, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party was shocked to witness the forceful invasion of the Secretariat which has been under lock and key.

    “As law-abiding citizens, we hereby, without any form of equivocation call on the AIG Zone 6, Commissioner of Police, Civil Defence and heads of all Security Agencies in Cross River State to expeditiously intervene and help restore the rule of law in the face of this brazen and evasive rape of the law by the APC. We hereby demand an explanation into this unlawful invasion of our Secretariat by the overzealous SWC of the APC.

    “As a party, we are very much aware of the APC’s incurable craze and penchant for lawlessness both at the National and State Level, an obvious tragedy all rational Cross Riverian nay Nigerian, must speak against. We call on the APC to respect the rule of law and redeem her image in the eyes of the people, at least for once.

    “As a party with the inalienable right to freedom of association as enshrined in our nation’s constitution, we shall continue to resist any attempt by the APC to gag, victimize or subjugate members of our great party.

    “We also call on our teeming supporters and members of our great party to remain calm and law-abiding as we explore all legal and legitimate means towards reclaiming our party Secretariat”

    God Bless Cross River State.

    Signed
    Prince Mike Ojisi
    (State Publicity Secretary)