2019 Cross River Guber Poll Not Election But An Auction – Eyo Ekpo

By Our Reporter

The Social Democratic Party Governorship candidate in the March 9th 2019 poll, Barrister Eyo Ekpo has expressed dissatisfaction over the Guber election, referring to the process as an “auction”.

Barrister Ekpo, who lost the election to the People’s Democratic Party’s candidate, Senator Ben Ayade, made his feelings known through a press release made available to CrossRiverWatch.

In the release, Mr. Ekpo alleged that the election was a bidding war, where public funds were used to satisfy personal ambitions.

It reads in part; “The events of Saturday, 9th March, in Cross River State cannot in anyway be described as an election. They were in reality, an auction; a bidding war in which public funds were deployed not for the benefit of the citizenry but to satisfy bloated egos and inordinate political ambitions.

He further stated that his defeat was due to “subverted popular will” a scenario which he said was made worse by “some SDP state Excos, including the State Chairman, Chief Eni Ibor, endorsing Governor Ayade”.

He continued by asking, “However, if in truth the incumbent had done all the great and good deeds ascribed to him, receiving many endorsements from across the State, what was the need to buy the conscience of citizens, SDP officers and public officials, to suppress votes, to wreak violence and commit electoral malpractices of all sorts? Can the result of all these be defined as a victory?”

Ekpo however accepted the outcome of the election, hinting that he will work with the returned Governor, Ben Ayade, praying that his (Ayade) second term will be much better than the first.

While concluding, Eyo appreciated SDP members and Cross Riverians at large for their steadfastness and loyalty towards the party, praying that the State will indeed be blessed.