It is a death knell for us –APC stalwart
By Abasi Ita, Calabar
The endorsement galore trailing the camp of People Democratic Party, PDP Governorship Candidate in Cross River State, Senator Sandy Onor got to the crescendo today, Monday, 13 March, 2023, as Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential flag bearer in the February 25 polls announced the decision of his party to queue behind PDP ahead the governorship race scheduled for Saturday, March 18, 2023.
Speaking on Arise TV early Monday on topical issues arising from the 2023 Elections, Obi disclosed that “for states where we don’t have candidates, we are partnering with some good candidates with proven track records of performance”
“Like in Cross River State, our surveillance has identified Professor Sandy Onor, a Senator, flying under the PDP. He is an excellent candidate. We will support him”
“For me, it is about having competent and credible people with proven integrity and track records, who will do well. It is not all about Labour Party”.
Obi implored members of the Labour Party and the “Obidient Movement” to mobilise massively and vote for Senator Sandy Onor of the PDP in the governorship race
Reacting to the development, a chieftain of the APC in the State, Chief Sabastine Ogar expressed dismay, noting that the endorsement has compounded the woes rattling the party arising from the last election in Cross River North.
In his words, this seems to us as the death knell on our chances in the gubernatorial race. There was no need to field a morally bankrupt individual coupled with the excess baggage from Governor Ayade.”
“Politics must grow beyond mundane things like ethnic considerations. How can a political party build a state-wide campaign on an ethnic mantra of “Back To South” without amplifying the proven credentials of the flag bearer? Let Senator Otu lead us to projects he facilitated during his stint at the National Assembly and address the multiple questions about his records at Mercantile Bank and family life”.
“The scorecard of Ayade is already a major setback for us in the field. We can not pretend or lie to ourselves continually”.
On the implication of the endorsement to the PDP, State Chairman of the Party Venatius Ikem Esq noted “It is a great value addition to our arsenal and it cannot be underestimated. Labour Party took us by surprise in the last election defeating all of our major political parties in the Presidential election in CRS. With this endorsement of the Obedient Movement phenomenal leader we can now sleep with our two eyes closed knowing that the issue of Governorship has been settled. It is a great day indeed.