By Kelvin Ololo
The lingering controversy surrounding the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial ticket for Cross River Central appears to have been resolved, following a peace meeting convened by the leadership of the party, signaling a renewed effort to reunite supporters ahead of the forthcoming elections.
Cross River State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, announced that all legal disputes arising from the party’s contentious party primary election had been withdrawn after an intervention by Governor Bassey Otu.
The development marks a significant turning point in the internal disagreements that followed the emergence of Hon. Oden Ewa as the APC’s candidate for the Cross River Central Senatorial District, a contest that had generated divisions within the party and culminated in litigation.
In a statement issued after the reconciliatory meeting held at his residence, Deputy Governor Odey disclosed that the meeting was convened at the instance of Governor Otu with the objective of restoring unity within the party.
“Earlier this morning at my residence, at the instance of His Excellency, the Governor of Cross River State, we put to rest the issue of the candidacy for the position of Senate in the Central Senatorial District of our great party, the APC.
“Accordingly, all matters pending in the courts have been withdrawn,” Odey stated.
He commended Sen. Eteng Jonah Williams for what he described as his maturity and understanding in accepting the outcome of the reconciliation process.
“I thank Sen. E. J. Williams for his maturity and understanding on this matter,” he said.
The Deputy Governor urged party faithful and stakeholders across the Central Senatorial District to unite behind the party’s candidate, Hon. Oden Ewa, stressing that cohesion within the APC would be critical to its electoral success.
“I call on all our supporters and people of the Central Senatorial District to rally behind our candidate, Hon. Oden Ewa. I also appeal to all our supporters to sheath their swords and fully accept the decision to support Hon. Oden Ewa and the APC in the forthcoming elections.”
The reconciliation comes after weeks of political tension generated by the APC primary, with supporters of the rival camps expressing divergent positions over the party’s candidate.
Political observers say the withdrawal of court cases and the public show of unity could strengthen the APC’s position in Cross River Central by presenting a united front ahead of the elections.
While the APC leadership has declared the dispute resolved, attention now shifts to whether party supporters across the district will fully embrace the reconciliation and translate the renewed unity into electoral strength in the coming polls.
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