Crisis Rocks C-River PDP As Gov Ayade Bares Fangs

• Dares NASS members over party primaries, LG polls

BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – The People Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State is steaming hot in crisis of confidence with the battle line drawn between Governor Ben Ayade’s political appointees and the National Assembly Members from the State.

Forefront learnt the root cause of the crises is the purported list of Local Government chairmen and Ward Councilors for the March 28, 2020 election which the National Assembly (NASS) members claim were unilaterally drawn by Governor Ayade and his cohorts without any form of primaries as provided for in the party constitution.

Piqued by what insiders described as the Governor’s usual bravado and alleged ‘nobody matters’ disposition, sustained pressure from Stakeholders has now seen the National Secretariat of the party reportedly supporting the NASS members’ position and declaring such list as null and void.

It further directed the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party to ensure that primaries are conducted for popular and suitable candidates to emerge ahead of the elections.

Addressing a press conference in Calabar, under the ages of Cross River Patriots, the Commissioner for Aviation, Rt. Hon. Jake Otu Enya, in company of over 50 political appointees in the state, however vowed to explore all possible and legal means to bring the career of the National Assembly Members to an end for daring to question the integrity of the Governor.

Deploying unprintable adjectives and words to describe the NASS members, the appointees also accused them of lacking electoral base back home as their victory at the 2019 polls were singlehandedly spearheaded by the Governor.

The Political Appointees stated that they are studying the constitutional provision of recall as one of the political weapons they intend to invoke to deal with the National Assembly Members if they do not show remorse in their actions.

But supporters of the lawmakers are upbeat and pleased with the National Secretariat’s directives, noting that those whose names were replaced during the alleged unilateral selection process that characterized the outcome of the last Local government ward now have justice.

The jubilation in their camp is deafening, with state-wide consultations ongoing preparatory for fresh primaries as directed by the party hierarchy in Abuja.

Forefront learnt from authoritative party sources that the final list of PDP candidates for the March 28, 2020 local government elections drew state wide condemnations among party faithfuls, who claimed that the list submitted to Cross River Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) was not a true reflection of what took place at the various ward level.

Some of the Governor’s aides, who bared their minds to Forefront after the Press briefing actually confessed that they were merely obeying directives from above as the National Assembly Members may have had a point in their grievances.

They however disagreed with the way and tactics employed by the NASS members to address their grievances, noting that the current development gives the wrong impression and makes it look as if the PDP National Secretariat is funding the party in the state.

For now, the battle line has been drawn and it remains to be seen who blinks first as parties in the dispute have vowed not to retreat nor surrender in the hard stance.