As entire Cross River State government led by APC moved to its northern district to formally receive defecting member of the House of Representatives, Peter Akpanke and to lure his constituents, the leading opposition party in the state, PDP has declared that they are rather wasting their time as their efforts will be in futility.
APC presently controls two senatorial districts apart from the northern district.
PDP Chairman in the state, Venatius Ikem, claims the APC government was struggling in vain as the northern senatorial district is entirely for PDP..
He said this in Obudu where APC stakeholders were meeting to receive Akpanke who represents Obudu/Bekwara/Obanliku (OBO) federal constituency, saying, “What they are after is not the OBO Federal seat. They are after Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe’s seat. But the north is saying loudly that it is a no go area! PDP will win OBO and win The Senate seat.
“What they should know is that even most of the APC members are supporting Senator Jarigbe. Forget what they say and the crowd they hire in the north. It’s not magic. The people know who means well for them.
“OBO is PDP. The challenge that Akpanke’s defection has posed has made us to close ranks and we are consolidating.
“Our Senate seat in Cross River North is not for sale. It is non- negotiable.
“I can emphatically say that their mission is dead on arrival and I believe they know it.”
Ikem, a former national publicity Secretary of the PDP alleged that the ruling party was sounding frustrated, advising that they should accept the reality and have peace.
He insisted that no law says APC must win all the seats because the Governor is APC.
Ikem stated that people in Cross River north where PDP holds dominance will vote based on track record of performance.
“There is nothing on earth that will convince them to vote for APC senatorial candidate against Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe.”
Meanwhile, Chairman of APC, Alphonsus Eba, expressed happiness over Akpanke’s entrance into the party, saying it was a big booster. He indicated that the project of taking over Cross River north was almost done.
He said: “If we fail to capture OBO, then we’re completely finished. We must do all we can to consolidate and win OBO for APC.”
The Chief of Staff to Gov Bassey Otu, Emmanuel Ironbar, in his reaction said, ”it’s a shame that as a ruling party we still have pockets of resistance (opposition) in Cross River north.