By Ushang Ewa
Former commissioner for environment and senate candidate of the Labor Party in central Cross River, Mr. Sandy Onor on Wednesday emerged the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) senatorial primaries in that senatorial district for the 2019 general elections.
Mr. Onor polled 542 votes to beat his closest rival, Walter Ajogbor who scored 21 votes to clinch the ticket. Blessing Egbara had three votes while incumbent federal lawmaker representing Abi/Yakurr federal constituency polled only two votes with Wilfred Usani and Dodeye Arikpo getting only one vote each.
A bosom friend of Governor Ben Ayade, Mr. Chris Agara whom many had speculated as the anointed candidate was reportedly left out for the primaries which held at the Ikom local government secretariat with speculations rife that he may joinn the All Progressives Congress after he visited Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba earlier today.
Mr. Agara was rumored to have been screened out by the Party’s screening committee, a claim which he had denied.
“The attention of Barrister Chris Agara, front line Senatorial aspirant for Central Senatorial district has been drawn to a misleading article currently trending on Social Media that he has been disqualified from the race for failure to present tax receipts and certificates as required by the party guidelines,” the statement emanating from his media team had read.
It continued: “This is nothing but a figment of the originators imagination who are losing sleep on a daily basis over his overwhelming acceptability and popularity among prospective delegates ahead of the October 2nd Senatorial Primaries.
“Barrister Chris Agara as the general public is already aware,was duly screened and cleared to vie for the PDP’s ticket in the forthcoming primaries by the National Assemblies Screening Panel having made available all that was requested from him by the Panel.
“Therefore, delegates to the forthcoming PDP Senatorial primaries must remain undaunted and more determined in their resolve to nominate Barrister Agara as the party’s Senatorial Candidate for Central Senatorial District in the coming primaries election.”
But, a picture of the ballot used in the primaries obtained by CrossRiverWatch on Tuesday showed that Mr. Agara’s name was conspicuously absent despite continuous assurances from his campaign team that he will be available for the contest.
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