By Laureta Akpan
The Conference of Cross River State Professionals, a socio-political association of professionals from Cross River state have condemn the State PDP caucus screening of governorship aspirants which released a list of 5 finalists out of the 26 who have announced their interest.
The conference in a statement signed by its Convener in Lagos, Mr. Effiong Nyong and made available to CrossRiverWatch called for a delegates election to elect the party’s flag bearer rather than what it calls, a systematic method of elimination of some aspirants from the race to Peregrino House.
The statements reads: “The Conference of Cross River State Professionals roundly condemns what, in the guise of state caucus screening, has turned to a systematic method of exclusion of some aspirants from the governorship race in the state by a cabal in the ruling party.
“We have watched with keen interest the way our collective wealth and resources have been appropriated with impunity since 1999, and we say enough is enough and we demand a change.
“The only way that change can come is through the next election and that is being subverted through the short listing of aspirants by the ruling party rather than allowing the process to go to primaries where as required by the legal instruments of the party, delegates will chose who will bear the party’s flag in 2015.
“We are professional and do not intend to get into partisan politics, but we will also not stand by again and watch the will of our people being frittered away by the interest of a cabal that has held the state down for many years.
“Any candidate that emerges through this method of elimination which ab initio is not recognized by any organ of law shall not be acceptable to the generality of the people of our state.
“We hereby call on the PDP leadership at the national level to call the party in the state to order and press it upon them to respect the role of the people in the democratic process.”
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