Death, Fights And Intrigues As More Candidates Emerge In Cross River

By Jonathan Ugbal

Information reaching CrossRiverWatch suggests that Chief Godwin Takus who won the State House of Assembly primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Obanliku has died in a ghastly motor accident.

Mr. Takus is said to have left for Abuja after his primaries and departed for Abuja immediately but was involved in a ghastly motor accident in Makurdi, the Benue state capital and died instantly.

The APC in the state was yet to issue a statement regarding his death as at press time.

Meanwhile, a roundup of the primaries in the state showed no signs of improvement from the start with more fights and intrigues surrounding the selection of delegates for the general elections slated for the first quarter of 2019.

In Northern Cross River, Honorable Legor Idagbo emerged the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Obudu/Obanliku/Bekwarra federal constituency after former Obanliku local government chairman, Mr. Godwin Amanke, Donclems Enamhe and KJ Agba’s names were left out of the ballot paper.

CrossRiverWatch gathered that Mr. Agba addressed the delegates and said that they have chosen to allow Mr. Idagbo to continue after interacting with stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Mr. Enamhe escaped lynching after he allegedly called out the Governor, Senator Ben Ayade for prevailing on them to step down for Mr. Idagbo. He was rushed out of the venue by a former councilor from Obanliku local government area.

CrossRiverWatch could not independently verify this as the phone lines of the PDP’s collation officer, Mr. Oko Inaku and Mr. Enamhe have been switched off.

Meanwhile, sources in Government House Calabar confirmed that Mr. Ayade has held marathon meetings with some aspirants including Mr. Agba.

A former aide of Mr. Ayade on revenue, Mr. Godwin Akwaji emerged the PDP House of Assembly candidate in Obudu.

In Ogoja/Yala federal constituency, Mr. Jarigbe Agom emerged winner of the PDP primaries. First term state lawmakers, Regina Anyogo and Peter Odey emerged as PDP candidates in Yala 1 and Ogoja state constituencies respectively.

In central Cross River, federal lawmaker, Mike Etaba won the PDP primaries as he bids for a second term in the House of Representatives. First term state lawmakers, Fred Osim and Hilary Bisong also won the Ikom 1 and Boki 2 PDP primaries.

The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, John Lebo clinched the ticket of the PDP for the Yakurr/Abi federal constituency. His former ally and Chief of Staff to former Governor Liyel Imoke, Mr. Alex Egbonna won the APC’s primaries.

State lawmaker, Eteng Jones Williams also won the PDP primaries in the Yakurr 2 State Constituency CrossRiverWatch gathered, while his counterpart in Obubra 1, Friday Okpechi also clinched the PDP’s ticket for a second term.

In southern Cross River, Mr. Essien Ayi won the Calabar South/Akpabuyo/Bakassi federal constituency ticket on the platform of the PDP as he seeks for a record fifth term while Senator Gershom Bassey emerged the PDP’s senatorial candidate; both under controversial circumstances with the latter involving the alleged beating of one of the aspirants for the position.

Also, a former State Attorney General serving in the administration of Governor Donald Duke, Mr. Eyo Ekpo emerged winner of the gubernatorial primaries of the Social Democratic Party while the chairman of the Inter Party Advisory Council in the State, Pastor Sunday Michael emerged the guber candidate of the Independent Democrats ID.