By Our Correspondent
Some aggrieved candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party in the forthcoming local government polls have called on the national leadership of the party to cancel the entire process of in the state calling it a sham.
The candidates who are drawn from the three senatorial zones of the state say the recently released list of candidates of the party falls short of the provisions of the party and the danger of losing the state looms by this act of outright imposition and impunity.
The candidates in a petition addressed to the national chairman of the party and signed by twelve candidates including Godwin Offiono (Yala), Naku John ( Ogoja LGA), Ikpi Ubana Eyong Yakurr LGA) Obi Stephen Owan (Etung LGA) and Orok Bassey Duke (Odukpani LGA) says the party should do the right thing else the Zamfara episode which the party benefitted from may be used against it.
According to the aggrieved candidates, 'What happened in the state was a meeting of a few people who wrote names and forwarded same to CROSIEC as candidates of the party.
'We therefore respectfully urge you to admonish the leadership of the party in Cross River State, to cancel the entire process, which was a sham and conduct fresh primary elections for the emergence of candidates.
'We foresee danger ahead for the party if Cross River State Government does not do the right thing, the precedent in Zamfara state is too fresh that our memory will be aloof, we benefitted.
'Otherwise, the danger of losing Cross River State as a PDP state to the opposition parties is gradually looming by this act of outright imposition and impunity', they said.
The candidates emphasised that from the beginning, activities in the time table were not observed, no forms, neither interest nor nomination were made available to the candidates despite the fact that some aspirants made payment to the party’s account.
They added that rather than do the right thing as stipulated by the constitution of the party, on the 30th of January, 2020, some groups of person appeared with heavily armed soldiers and policemen and affirmed persons hitherto published as candidates in contravention of the date for submission of list of candidates by political parties.
