Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has been accused of imposing an opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, Peter Odey Agbe, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship running mate in the state.
In a petition to the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, the Chairman Cross River State Council For Good Governance (CRSCGG) James Udoh, and Secretary, Emmanuel Akpan, alleged that Odey Peter Agbe, who is a chieftain of the PDP, was imposed as the running mate to Otu Bassey, the APC governorship candidate.
In the petition accompanied by a court affidavit sworn at the Federal High Court, Abuja, by Ekanem Bassey Asoquo, the group said “Peter Odey Agbe is a registered member of the PDP and was hitherto sponsored by the PDP to contest election in the State House of Assembly.
CRSCGG argued in the petition that the group had checked the membership register of the APC in Agbe’s ward and that as at the time of the petition, he was still a member of the PDP.
The petitioners also said the name of Agbe “is not found in the APC register and yet, his name was imposed on the governorship candidate, Bassey Otu as his running mate, adding that the move was a ploy by Governor Ayade to cause the APC to loose the gubernatorial election, so that he can win his senatorial election.
The group claimed that the APC governorship candidate was helpless and could not protest because of the fear of losing the support of Ayade.
CRSCGG therefore asked the National Chairman to address this “anomaly” before the August 8 date for the substitution of all candidates in the 2023 governorship election.
