Group faults Ayade’s decision to challenge C’River North senatorial district poll result
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
A socio-political group, Northern Cross River Progressives Forum has faulted the decision of the Cross River State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, to contest the outcome of the Cross River North Senatorial District election.
The group described the governor’s decision as insensitive considering the support Sen. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, the winner of the poll enjoys within the 54 political wards of the northern district of the state.
Chairman of the group, Ntufam Ogar Odey, and Secretary, Comrade Peter Agaba made this known in a statement in Calabar after an emergency meeting.
The meeting which was convened to review the outcome of the last general elections in the state described the National Assembly election in the Cross River North as free, fair and most credible.
Explaining why they disagree with the governor’s decision on the election, the group said “our stand has become inevitable in order to caution and restrain an individual without any direct positive impact on our developmental aspirations from continuously depleting our common patrimony in pursuit of a selfish motive he embarked upon since our former lawmaker, late Senator Rose Oko passed on in 2020.
“We in the North decided to vote massively for Senator Jarigbe across party lines given his visible projects across our 54 political wards.
“Ayade’s decision is the height of insensitivity given the overwhelming support enjoyed by Jarigbe across the North which is attributable to his achievements despite a short spell in the Senate.
“Ayade as a Governor for about eight years could not achieve half of what Jarigbe did in about one-half- years as a Senator.
“Let the Governor dare not provoke our people by wanting to once again feast on the state treasury to prosecute his tribunal case.
“Let him desist from stoking the flame of violence and disunity amongst our people using through politics.
“Our people were resolute, even in the face of thuggery, intimidation, destruction of property, and bluntly rejected huge amount voted for vote buying during the National Assembly polls”, the group said.
The group further said they are monitoring proceedings at the election tribunal and are aware that the governor has already misfired by pleading for Presidential Results which includes Forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C and EC8D as against Senatorial Elections results which include Forms EC8A1, EC8B1, EC8C1 and EC8D1
The group maintained that “in law, the evidence tendered, must support the pleadings,” adding “leave Senator Jarigbe alone because he won the election, freely and fairly.”
Ayade lost the battle to return to the Upper Legislative chamber of the National Assembly to incumbent Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Dr. Emmanuel Emanghe, the returning officer for Cross River North Senatorial district election while announcing the results said Senator Jarigbe polled 76,145 as against Ben Ayade (APC) who got 56,595 votes.
