By Jonathan Ugbal
As the race for who eventually represents Cross River at the ninth National Assembly by June 2019 becomes clearer, more party primaries have thrown forth candidates for the 11 positions which comprise of three Senate and eight House of Representatives seats.
The leader of the seventh senate, Victor Ndoma-Egba clinched the ticket of the All Progressives Congress in central Cross River after he polled 50,729 votes to beat Professor Martins Obono who clinched 19,349 votes while former Information Commissioner, Akin Ricketts garnered 302 votes with Dr. Henry Ayuk scoring 252 votes.
But, a parallel congress produced Akin Ricketts as winner having scored 12,311 votes to beat Ndoma-Egba who garnered 251 votes; Ayuk with 6,520 votes and Professor Obono who scored 100 votes. This result was declared by Architect Tata Ifere and is reportedly endorsed by the faction of the party which produced Niger Delta Affairs minister, Usani Usani as the gubernatorial candidate.
In southern Cross River, CrossRiverWatch gathered that former House of Representatives member and Senator, Prince Bassey Otu clinched the senate ticket easily.
Meanwhile, Mr. Wabilly Nyiam beat the former Chairman, editorial board of the African Independent Television, Mr. Ray Ugba Morphy to emerge as the senatorial candidate of the APC.
In the race for the green chambers, Koko Dan emerged victorious in the Obudu/Obanliku/Bekwarra federal constituency while the son of former Senator Greg Ngaji, Mr. Jude Ngaji clinched the ticket for the Ogoja/Yala federal constituency.
Mr. Ngaji recently defected from PDP to the APC after resigning as the State Security Adviser. However, CrossRiverWatch gathered that the governor, Senator Ben Ayade refused to accept his resignation.
And, in the Ikom/Boki federal constituency, the former chief of staff to Ndoma-Egba, Mr. Victor Abang emerged as the candidate in a landslide victory.
