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| Anthony Bissong Attah (M), Willie Akpama (R) |
Nyok|25 January 2019
The Cross River Central senatorial hopefuls of the Young Progressives Party, YPP and Coalition for Change, Mr Anthony Bissong Attah and Willie Akpama respectively, Thursday, announced their formal endorsement and adoption of Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba SAN, the All Progressives Congress, APC candidate for Cross River Central Senatorial District NEGROIDHAVEN.
With this development, they have officially terminated their respective decision to represent the senatorial district at the National Assembly, NASS through the 16 February general election.
This announcement was made in Calabar the state capital city at YPP’s Secretariat. According to Attah, the decision to adopt Ndoma-Egba as the concensus candidate was born out of painstaking research and wide consultations across the Senatorial District. He added that considering Ndoma-Egba’s pedigree, he will with ease draw attention to the socio-political and otherwise needs of the District.
His words, ‘Let me begin by welcoming you to this all important press conference. The reason for this meeting is simply to formally endorse and adopt the candidature of Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba as our concensus candidate for the February 16, 2019 general elections.
‘After months of rigorous and painstaking campaigns, wide consultations and deliberations, as candidates of Young Progressives Party and my friend, candidate for Coalition for Change, both contesting as Senators in Cross River Central Senatorial District in the 2019 general election, we are compelled by the opinion received from thousands of people from our senatorial district to across the 66 political wards, and of course the six local government comprising Abi, Boki, Etung, Ikom, Obubra and Yakurr local government areas respectively to adopt, endorse, and support Distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba as our concensus candidate for 2019 general election.
‘It is important to note my dear friends that this decision did not come easily. It is a product that of a critical survey and research of all contenders to the soul of Cross River Central in the Red Chambers: propelled by the understanding that as a three time Senator, and the chairman of NDDC laced with a robust national and international image, our dear former Senator will be able to, with relative ease, draw attention to the socio-political, economic and otherwise needs of our people as well as hasten the accomplishments of our political blueprint.
‘His capacity, capability and audacity to speak for the common good of Central Senatorial District have endeared him to all of us.
‘Moreover, as candidates of different parties, we hold very strongly the fact that the current challenges ravaging our country especially the National Assembly demands urgent steps that defies our traditional cleavage to the politics of political parties. We are therefore more inclined to supporting individuals and not merely political parties.
‘Therefore, beyond the ceremony of adoption, we implore our teeming supporters across the length and breath of Central Senatorial District to join us as we renavigate the ship of our campaign to a safe harbour with our friend, co-contestant and ally, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba as our new captain.’
Akpama of the Coalition for Change observed that his decision is further emboldened by the fact that his party’s ideology of change aligns with that of the APC. However, he denied that the Coalition for Change is an extension of the All Progressives Congress in any regard.
With this development, the People’s Democratic Party senatorial hopeful, Ntufam Sandy Onor’s campaign for the same senatorial district is perceived to suffer a degree of setback.
Efio-Ita Nyok is the blogger-in-chief, editor-in-chief and publisher of NEGROIDHAVEN
