Our Correspondent|26 October 2018
CALABAR – MEMBERS of North and South Ukelle communities in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State on Tuesday embarked on a peaceful protest to call for the nomination of their choice, Emmanuel Asegem by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to contest the State House of Assembly election for the Yala 2 State constituency.
The crowd comprising youths, women, community leaders and the elderly marched round villages in the area carrying placards with various inscriptions to call on Senator Ben Ayade, governor of the state to prevail on the party to forward the name of Asegem as the candidate of the party to represent them in the state house in 2019.
“We do not want imposition of leaders again in Ukelle but should be allowed to choose those we want and Emmanuel Asegem is our choice for the State House of Hssembly for Yala 2 constituency in 2019 and our governor should do the needful by instructing the party to send his name because we voted for him during the primary”. Mrs Agnes Igbang, a woman leader said.
The crowd which chanted songs round the villages said they are disheartened with the replacement of Asegem’s name with that of a lady and insisted that the PDP would suffer repercussions if there is no reversal to their choice.
‘This young man has been with us through thick and thin and we know his ability and capacity so bypassing him for a woman is against our will we therefore insist for a reversal to our choice”. Agnes insisted.
Another speaker, Mr James Ebele said the governor’s election is on the same date with the House of Assembly elections and we do not want anything to affect the goverbors votes so we should be treated fairly by the party.
“We have mobilised about 60,000 votes in the six wards of Ukelle and we would return those votes to the governor but if our choice is not nominated for the election, it will be difficult to bring out everybody on election day to vote and that may affect his votes and we don’t want that to happen”. Ebele said.
He said in the past Ukelle has experienced imposition of leaders which is the reason for the non development of the place and averred that time has come for the people to be allowed to choose those to represent them.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is the Blogger-in-Chief, Editor-in-Chief & Publisher of NEGROIDHAVEN
