By Inemesit Friday
Senator Eteng Jonas Williams and Mary Ekpere, both aspirants in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Cross River Central Senatorial District primary, have called for the cancellation of the purported primary election held on Monday, describing the exercise as flawed and lacking legitimacy.
The duo made the call on Monday evening in Ikom while addressing a large crowd of supporters, insisting that the exercise violated an earlier directive of the party which reportedly barred Oden Ewa from participating over clearance issues. They also maintained that the party had instructed that all results be submitted to the national secretariat for proper ratification.
Eteng alleged that the process was compromised through the alleged withholding of electoral materials and the use of an unauthorised electoral panel he said was deliberately constituted to influence the outcome in favour of a preferred candidate.
He further claimed that many supporters who arrived early at designated ward and local government collation centres were met with empty venues, alleging that voting locations were suddenly changed overnight, thereby disenfranchising eligible party members.
According to him, the development reflected a calculated attempt by influential figures within the party to suppress participation and impose a predetermined outcome.
In her remarks, Mary Ekpere alleged that her name was deliberately removed from the list of aspirants in Cross River Central and moved to Cross River North in what she described as an attempt to sideline her from the contest.
She claimed the action was taken by the state chapter of the party to clear the path for a preferred candidate of the state government led by Governor Bassey Otu.
“We are all members of the APC who worked for the survival of the party during its difficult years. The selective treatment given to Oden Ewa despite his disqualification is unacceptable. Governor Otu should not allow selfish interests to undermine the party,” she said.
Supporters at the gathering cautioned against actions capable of deepening divisions within the party ahead of the general elections.
They urged party leadership to take disciplinary steps to restore order and internal democracy, warning that any perceived compromise of party supremacy could trigger protest votes and weaken the party’s electoral chances.