By Aplefe Ojong
Barely 48 hours after the adoption of Cross River State governor, Senatoe Ben Ayade by the 18 chapter Chairmen of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the state Chairman of the party, Chief Ikpi Eni, has affirmed that the party has indeed adopted the governor as its candidate in Saturday’s election.
According to Eni, the adoption is in line with the decision of the state Executive Council of the party as well as the National Working Committee.
According to Mr. Eni, “The decision to adopt Governor Ayade is authentic. And I am also confirming that it was an act of a resolution we had arrived at as a party to adopt the governor,” Ekpo clarified.
Justifying the action of the party to adopt Governor Ayade, the state SDP Chair said: “From what we have seen so far, there is nothing sufficient to indicate the seriousness and preparedness of the SDP governorship candidate for the March 9 election.
“Despite my repeated demand of his blueprint from his campaign organization, there is nothing to convince us that our party in the state is ready for the election.”
Eni further said the achievements of Governor Ayade were clear to everyone in the state that he deserves a second term, adding that “SDP can only encourage and be part of the generality of Cross Riverians to support his second term bid. And that was contained in our collective action as the state Executive Council to adopt him to run for a second term. The decision is total and collective.”
But the Deputy Governorship candidate of the party, Mr. Wofai Ewa, says that his boss, Mr. Eyo Ekpo, is firmly in the race for Saturday and described the party excos as scavengers who went to scam the governor.
In a fscebook post on his verified facebook timeline, Mr. Ewa said, “The SDP is firmly in the race to #RecoverAndRestore Cross River State.
“Kindly ignore any messages from political contractors and scavengers claiming to endorse the APC and/or PDP. These persons are hungry and only after their stomachs and will do ANYTHING to condemn our State for selfish benefits.
On Saturday the 9th of March, go out in your numbers, with family and friends, and VOTE THE WHITE HORSE!!!
While flagging a photograph of the state exco with the governor and his deputy during the endorsement visit, Mr. Ewa urged Cross Rieverians to “recognise the gathering of HUNGRY SDP EXECUTIVES who have gone on to deceive the current Governor of CRS, in a purported endorsement exercise.
“Let it be known that these persons cannot even move more than Five (5) persons away from the SDP, because all Elements of the SDP structure in Cross River, remain loyal to the leader of the Party, Barr. Eyo O. Ekpo.
“We wish them well in their new found hunger-induced relationship, as we wipe the slate clean behind their backs.” He said.
Earlier, the Director General of the Eyo Ekpo Campaign Organization, Mr. Ambo Ekpenyong, in a statement said the Eyo Ekpo’s #RecoverAndRestore campaign, cannot and will never be destroyed by a greedy few in SDP who believe that the Party is a vehicle solely for conducting mercenary business to betray candidates at the eleventh hour.
Part of the statement which was made available to CrossRiverWatch read:
“In the past 7 months, and particularly since this electioneering campaign season opened, the SDP Governorship and House of Assembly campaigns in the State have been conducted with utmost decorum and respect for the rules. We have focused totally on presenting our Party, our candidates, our FRESH Manifesto and our Execution Plan (GettingTheJobDone) to the people.
“The enthusiastic welcome and the loud pleas for us to stay the course to the very end have boosted our conviction that our campaign enjoys popular support. We have no doubt that our campaign is rooted firmly in the minds of our fellow citizens across the State as an endeavour entirely for their benefit.
“Therefore, our #RecoverAndRestore campaign cannot and will never be destroyed by a greedy few in our Party who believe that the Party is a vehicle solely for conducting mercenary business to betray candidates at the eleventh hour.
“All Party members, supporters and indeed all citizens of Cross River State are hereby advised once again to ignore any message whatsoever claiming that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and/or the Eyo Ekpo Campaign Organisation (EECO) have endorsed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship and/or House of Assembly candidates or any other Party candidates whatsoever.”
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