By CrossRiverWatch Admin
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The immediate past Commissioner for Health in Cross River State, Dr. Betta Edu has emerged as the National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Also, Chief Edet Asia has emerged as the Zonal Leader of persons with disability in the South-South. Both will serve in the national executive arm of the APC after emerging at Saturday’s national convention held at Eagle’s Square in Abuja.
While Asia’s emergence was a consensus from the micro-zoning approach of the party, Dr. Edu faced stiff opposition from the former Director-General of the National Women Development Center, Dr. Mary Ekpere-Eta up until about 2:39 AM on Sunday when she announced her withdrawal from the race.
“Good morning your excellency, distinguished senator, our new Chairman of the party, His Excellency, Governor Atiku Bagudu and all the Governors in the glasshouse who intervened, the wife of my amiable governor, and Nigerian women; I like to say that after due consultation, I have withdrawn my participation in the contest for the party’s National Women Leader.” Ekpere – Eta said.
That was after she had grabbed the microphone from the State Chairman of the party, Barr. Alphonsus Eba who claimed during his goodwill message that Dr. Edu was the consensus candidate as Ekpere-Eta and the other aspirant, Mrs. Helen Boco had withdrawn.
Ekpere-Eta quickly announced that she was still in the race, leading to some commotion. The trio was cleared on Friday morning after some delay.
However, at the count of the ballot, Mrs. Edu polled 2,063 votes out of the 2,184 casted while Barr. Boco had 115 votes. Mrs. Ekpere-Eta still clinched three votes despite withdrawing while three votes were deemed invalid.