Our Correspondent|2 April 2019
—investigations has it that the PDP and the APC in Cross River State especially in Bakassi LG may have been in an unholy marriage in the just concluded general elections.
—the state governor seem embarrassed such that he's directed that recent revelations shouldn't be divulged to the public.
Fresh facts have emerged on how some PDP chieftains in Bakassi played anti- party during the governorship, assembly elections in Cross River.
Investigations showed that some PDP bigwigs in the Bakassi allegedly entered into alliance with main some members of the opposition party, APC, to deliver APC governorship and house of assembly candidates.
It was learnt that the PDP chieftains were not happy with the automatic ticket handed down to the incumbents National Assembly members by the party leadership. Thus, they resorted to plotting against their party perhaps to teach them a lesson in all the elections.
The anti party included absenting from polling units on elections' days and buying votes for the APC candidates led by a national assembly member from the area, negotiating for votes in the polling unit.
Also included in the negotiation, was allocation of votes in some polling units in the ratio of PDP 10%, SDP and APC 30% and 60% of votes respectively.
A reliable source, who pleaded not to be named said the activities of these party members were well documented and handed over to both the part leadership and the governor.
But the the governor was said to have warned that the evidences including video recordings should not be made public.
The source further revealed that some of the political appointees said to have allegedly engaged in the anti party and deliberately refused to show up in their polling units to protect PDP votes include the Chapter chairman of the party, Hon. Saviour Nyong, a serving commissioner in Ayade's government, Gerald Esin, Hon Iyadim Iyadim (Chairman Bakassi Security committee) Joe Mary Ekeng, Mrs Lawrencia Ita, and Hon Edisua Usang. Others are Mma Lawrencia, Otu Otu and Emmanuel Awor.
Their actions were against the directive of the Governor that every appointee must follow the elections materials and results down to the coalition centers.
Checks revealed that the only appointee who found his way to the election ground, was Iyadim Iyadim, the Chairman of Bakassi Security Committee.
This development led to the like of Mrs. Lawrencia Ita and Hon Edisua Usang, senior appointees of the present government, losing their polling units to APC.
One of the political appointees, who felt very embarrassed by the action of his colleagues, comrade Emmanuel Etim Asuquo, said: "This is a high level of irresponsibility and nonchalant attitude. It is unbelievable that with all the monies at their disposal and the level of influence they claim to have, it is only 3 votes they can gather from their polling unit. This is a clear case of anti-party.
According to him it is high time those who engaged in anti party should be disciplined to forestall future occurrence.
He said their act of disloyalty showed itself during the presidential and national assembly elections were PDP lost Senate and House of Representatives in the LGA after they had collected money from the party and rather used the money to work against us.
Another party chieftain, Ekpenyong Duke Duke, said all those who played anti party and are now denying should who present their polling unit results if they actually claim to be present in Bakassi during the elections.
Duke further debunked rumors making the rounds and insinuations that the attempted assassination on the life of the State Security Adviser for South Mr. Esin was because he refused to share election monies with his boys as there are evidences that he spent virtually everything given him even with excess.
"You see, that story is not true, Esin disbursed every single dime given to him; he had to spend from his own pocket at a point because provisions were made for 69 polling units, but on getting to the field we discovered INEC had created more voting points, bringing the total numbers of both poling units and voting points to about 90. And he catered for all the 90 points.
"As evidence that the monies were judiciously disbursed, the result of the governorship elections was far better than what we had during the presidential elections". He pointed out.
A ward Chairman in Bakassi, who pleaded anonymity, said; "My brother I can confirm the information you heard that there were lots of anti-party activities that took place in Bakassi. And it started with disbursement of funds. Shortly after the disbursement, some of these chieftains took off and they tried to block the House of Assembly candidate from accessing the funds but they failed as Ani told them that this was his election so he should be the one in possession of the funds. Moreso he knows that they are working against PDP interest ao he can't give them funds to use against his ambition.
"In fact there were lots of fracas in so many wards. So many things happened that day, but God gave us success and we won.'
Sources close to PDP leadership disclosed that a committee has been set up to investigate the anti-party activities of these appointees.
