By CrossRiverWatch Admin
Barring any last minute change, the three leading gubernatorial candidates in Cross River for the 2019 general elections will today (Wednesday) join dozens of other stakeholders to discuss how credible and violence free elections can be conducted in the State.
The trio of Senator Ben Ayade of the People’s Democratic Party; Senator John Owan-Enoh of the All Progressives Congress and Mr. Eyo Ekpo of the Social Democratic Party are all guests at the maiden political summit organised by FAD 93.1 FM Calabar and FAD 360 TV.
A statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer of FAD Media Group which owns both broadcast outfits, Mr. Fidelis Duker said the essence of the summit themed: “Elections 2019; Every Vote Must Count (Towards A Free, Fair And Violence Free General Elections,)” is to, “enlighten as well as educate the electorates, political candidates, security agencies, media, civil society and other major stakeholders on ways of achieving a credible, peaceful and transparent electoral before, during and after the electoral process in 2019.”
Duker said the event is also in furtherance to the media’s agenda setting role in electioneering processes hence, “the need to bring together under one roof, the major players and stakeholders discuss their rights, the dos and don’ts as to how the State can have a credible and violence free election come 2019.”
According to him, the event slated for the Dome event center at the Calabar Municipal Council ground will have representatives of political parties, Civil Society Organisations, the Media, Security Agencies, Women Groups, Union and Trade leaders, Market Women, Traditional Institutions, Interest Groups, Opinion leaders, the electorates, Student union bodies among others in attendance.
An expert in “political and international law of treaties, Professor Akin Oyebode; a former chairman of the national human rights commission, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, an associate Professor of political economy from the Lagos Business School and Professor Rex Ogbuagu of the faculty of Social Sciences in the University of Calabar are expected to deliver the keynote addresses,” the organisers said.
Mr. Ayade, alongside his deputy, are exected to declare the event open by 11:00AM while the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Frankland Briyai; the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Hafiz Inuwa, Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Honorable John Lebo and the chairman, governing board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba are to serve as panelists and discussants.
Others include the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on prosecution, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla; CrossRiverWatch founder, Mr. Agba Jalingo; the Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral David Adeniran; the chairman of the State’s Traditional Rulers Council, Etinyin Etim Okon Edet, Ntufam Hilliard Eta, Mr. Venatius Ikem, Mrs. Nkoyo Toyo and Senator Gershom Bassey.
The event is expected to be aired live on FAD 93.1 FM Calabar to its estimated 7 million listeners across Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu and Rivers States.
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