Wednesday, March 30, 2011
ACN drew battle line with PDP
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| •Imoke & •Mbu |
Before today, Cross River, was essentially a party state as demonstrated in the recent local elections, where the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won, leaving the opposition with only five seats out of 196 councilorship .In addition, the Governor Liyel Imoke political accommodation and humility in the service may have weakened the political far bigwigs, who were about to oppose the PDP and its administration. This, of course, it became virtually impossible to have dissenting voices and made all shades of opinion in the ruling party.
But the bubble burst in the state shortly after the primaries of the PDP. The majority of members felt not only betrayed, but he was shocked that the much talked about zoning and the promise of allowing communities to decide who rule their was a fluke.Daily Sun investigations revealed that the primary results triggered a series of complaints and protests from some candidates who raised eyebrows on the conduct, arguing that the primaries have been skewed by up to favor certain candidates, while those of them without god-fathers were left to slug it out with the hope that all candidates receive an equal footing, as promised by the
party.But the bubble burst in the state shortly after the primaries of the PDP. The majority of members felt not only betrayed, but he was shocked that the much talked about zoning and the promise of allowing communities to decide who rule their was a fluke.Daily Sun investigations revealed that the primary results triggered a series of complaints and protests from some candidates who raised eyebrows on the conduct, arguing that the primaries have been skewed by up to favor certain candidates, while those of them without god-fathers were left to slug it out with the hope that all candidates receive an equal footing, as promised by the
Beginning last year, the party leadership during a tour of the 18 regions of the Council stated categorically that "PDP meet all zoning provisions adopted by party members and communities in the selection of candidates for the board and those coming general elections in the state.
Ntufam Ekpo Okon, the party chairman, said it is more usual that its tickets are not seeing more than flour, insisting that members of that period should go run for office . This declaration opened the political space that many interested members jumped into the race believing that the competition is free and fair. But this was not the case that the majority of candidates have protested against the process.Annoyed by this, those who have lost INEC petitions complaining that the processes are not only false, but the election guidelines were not followed in selecting anyone who has emerged as a candidate. Most of them had sworn to a defect to the opposition parties if nothing was done to right the wrongs.Imoke governor would have convened a meeting of all candidates, imploring them not to do anything that would jeopardize the fate of the party in the upcoming general elections.
Furthermore, the cold war between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the PDP in the state has encouraged the opposition because they believe that an impartial arbitrator, the coast is clear for everyone to pick up the ticket poll in April.
aggressive campaigns PDPNot wanting to be caught off guard, the DPP has undertaken aggressive campaigns in 18 local government areas to solicit votes and development projects implementation in the past four years. The campaign team has Imoke as its leader, Mr Gershom Bassey, Chairman and Dr. Sandy Onoh, Director General, was to cross the length and breadth of the state canvassing for votes.
Imoke Said: "Our campaigns are two-fold, first to congratulate them for their cooperation and the relative peace enjoyed in their fields, and also to intimate the presence of the campaign team, there are supports solicitation in part, adding that he also allowed the opportunity to commission and inspect some projects. "
The team also presented PDP flag bearer of the party in the April elections that included candidates for state and national assemblies as well as presidential candidate of the party, President Goodluck Jonathan, while the governor took opportunity to position the state government on its plans and programs.
Cold War between the opposition parties and the PDPWith this development, the race for the 2011 general elections can not be one-sided win-win for the DPP. The political class and large blocks of state power have arisen once again, working for the emergence of their preferred candidate.For PDP, it was somewhat daunting trying to get their candidates approved by INEC. The cold war rages between INEC and the state chapter of the party, the PDP on the conduct of recent conferences. The electoral body said there was no clear evidence of the party congress in all neighborhoods, thus declaring that the whole exercise a nullity.
This development has caused a palpable fear and tension among the candidates who emerged from this process, as most party members and their supporters are scared to death that the face off may disrupt the process begun two democraric weeks.Opposition parties have taken the path of the courts to challenge the discharge of PDP candidates by INEC, marking the beginning of another legal tussle for the general election.
Depending on appeal to the High Court Division of the Federal Judicial Calabar, and dated January 25, 2011, opposition parties including the Congress for progressive change (CPC), Democratic Front for the Federation of Peoples (DFPF), Labour Party (LP), All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) seeking a decision as to whether the alleged primary election held by the DPP to power on January 4, 6, 7 and 13, 2011, for the nomination of its candidates for the House of Assembly, the House of Representatives, Senate and Governance in Cross River State are legitimate and valid.
In the suit with PDP and INEC as defendants, counsel for the plaintiff, Chief Okoi O. Obono-Obla in the subpoena also wants the court to determine whether INEC, as regulator and supervisor of the affairs of political parties in Nigeria, has the power to revoke or to invalidate or cancel the congress organized by PDP claimed on the date above for the nomination of its candidates.
It is also seeking an interpretation if DPP is obliged to keep Congress in the election districts, local government areas and state executive committees prior to the election of delegates for the nomination of its candidates State House of Assembly, the National Assembly and Governance General Election of April 2011.
The changing tideAnalysts would argue that the tide began to change shortly after the primaries that events have shown that the stage is set for a ding-dong battle among PDPs, ACN, ANPP and LP.As at press time, some lawmakers and former PDP pillars of dumping on the ruling party for ACN, ANPP and LP. They include legislators in place of Calabar South, Biase, Boki Yakurr 11 and a state constituencies, while the old one, including aspiring Iwar Patrick Messer, Alex Irek, and over four hundred of their supporters die hard still for ACN .
Legislators would be piqued, despite the full support they gave to Imoke and leadership of the State Assembly of the House, they have allowed them to be denied the fields during the primaries. For them, therefore, the only option is to withdraw from the "family" who rejected after having sacrificed to build the party.For ACN, they fight like a wounded lion that most of their candidates defected to PDP and felt hurt. So now is the opportunity not only to feel liberated, but to prove their political relevance.Confirming the mass exodus of members of the DPP to ACN, the state party chairman, Comrade Cletus Obun, said: "For the moment, ACN is the beautiful bride in town and we'll surprise a lot of politicians who behave like If PDP is a demi-god that can not be touched, we presented quality candidates and most of them defected from the ruling PDP.
Obun said, "I speak with you, some heavyweights in the PDP are in touch with us, and we assured of our willingness to work together and release the chains of state anti-democratic forces that have governed for over a decade now and I can tell you that the revolution is on, not stop us. "Obun said, "I speak with you, some heavyweights in the PDP are in contact with us and we assured of our willingness to work together and release the chains of state anti-democratic forces that have ruled for more than a decade now and I can tell you that the revolution is on, not stop us. "
He disclosed that the party nominates candidates for elections for governor, three senatorial districts, the eight seats in the House of Representatives and 24 candidates for the state House of Assembly elections.
The candidates are Matthew Mbu Jnr as a candidate for governor and his deputy, Mr. Patrick Agba, and Professor Patrick Eyo Etim Iwar Nyong vying for the central and southern senatorial district, respectively."We have eight members of the Federal House, who are all here, and today we have 24 members of the 25 contesting the 25 state Houses of Assembly constituencies. With this line-up, and a full team, the Action Congress Nigeria, ACN, Cross River State is fully prepared for the forthcoming elections in April 2011, he said.
protest votesThe well-spoken one-party state seems to be gradually giving way that some members of the PDP have promised to use surveys while waiting to take their pound of flesh by working for the opposition from within.Daily Sun investigations revealed that in some Southern communities in Calabar, the municipality of Bakassi Odukpani, Yakkurr, Obubra, Boki, Ogoja and Yala are preparing for protest votes, pending the general elections for alleged tax pure and simple candidates on people without caring whose ox is gored. Sources close to these political heavyweights has suggested that some communitites this time vote for people and not on a party as was the case.
It was learned that some of these communities are not only angry against the powers that be in the state, but felt betrayed, used and dumped by the leadership of PDP which they were shipped to Back plan simply by applying all means vote for their preferred candidates and in its place "planting favored son and daughter" as the winner in the primaries.
Further investigations by Daily Sun revealed that some PDP pillars are quietly working hand in hand with some candidates ACN for the party in power is thrown out, except across the state in some areas local government to reduce their grip on political life. Some of the campaign coordinators and canvassers ACN candidates are said to be all members of the PDP card holders who have defied the party in support of their own choice.Reacting to the development, Emmanuel Okoh, a leader of youth Ogoja, said the way and manner about the PDP primaries left much to be desired as Members may end up voting for parties of opposition.
Oko, who led a group of protesters around Igoli and Okuku in Ogoja recently to protest against the non-conduct of the primaries of PDP for Ogoja / Yala Federal District, said the party corrupted the process, threatening that the door should remain Oko standard-bearer for the party for the position of the House of Representatives, then the constituents have no choice but to vote for another party to protest against the imposition pure and simple.
In a telephone interview with the publicity of State PDP secretary, Mr. Abu Eyo, he said: "Those who dumped our party are not fair, because losing the election in the primaries is not an excuse to engage in anti-party that the party will do everything for everybody discipline or group that dares leadership. "
According Eyo, "PDP will always win, and we work very hard campaigning in all areas of local government to get the win and we will not lose a seat to the opposition, and we are not bothered by their threats, because we're used to it. "But observers fear that the main opposition party, ACN has not launched a massive campaign.However, the question seems to be joker of court opposition parties as they are optimistic of obtaining justice at the Federal High Court, and if that fails will proceed to the higher court.
Chief Mike Agbor, a pillar of the PDP Bekwarra in northern senatorial district, admitted that the race will be difficult in the state is considering the mood of Nigerians, and what happens in the Arab world.Agbor said, "In times like this people might want a change of leadership, but it also depends on the oppsite is able to galvanize the system to change things. Certainly, it would not be a total victory, like usual because the tide has changed. Since 2003, the only time an opposition party has candidates in all positions from one state to the National Assembly, an indication that the line of battle is established. "
It maitained that opposition parties will certainly gain seats in the state and national assemblies that people will not be fooled with their right to vote for the PDP, adding that "the positions are negotiable. If Imoke wants to win, its notes, as it can not afford to do all the candidates good and bad along. "To some political observers, if Imoke could finally win the second term ticket, the battle might not carry the usual round style.
