APC gov. candidate loses support of party chieftain, community leaders

Prince Bassey Otu, the governorship candidate of the APC in Cross River, has lost the support of Chief Sam Bassey, a chieftain of the ruling party, and community leaders in the Biase Local Government Area.

Sam Bassey and the community leaders of Biase all pledged support for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Sandy Onor on Sunday.

They made the declaration at a stakeholders’ meeting at Biase, near Calabar.

Bassey said he and his followers took the decision to work for the success of Onor while still in the APC.

He noted that their action does not in any way amount to anti-party activity; It is meant to correct the injustice meted out to their constituency.

“The zoning structure adopted by the state chapter of the APC in their primaries election is in itself anti Akamkpa/Biase federal constituency where we all hail from,” he stated.

Bassey, a member of APC legacy group, said the time has come for the political class and political parties to demonstrate equity, fairness, and justice in sharing political offices.

He pointed out that using zoning or rotation to deny or marginalize other minority segments of the state is against the spirit of brotherhood.

Lashing proponents of back-to-south zoning arrangement, Bassey maintained that the agitators of rotation are mostly those who want to continually dominate the other sections that make up a zone.

He stressed that every senatorial zone has credible people and resources to lead the state.

He regretted that both the APC governorship and senatorial candidates are from Efik and from one local government area.

While noting that this arrangement was with the exclusion of Akamkpa and Biase local government areas, he said it was an attempt to perpetually marginalize the minorities in the south.

“I am vehemently opposed to this kind of arrangement where some people will remain underdogs and cannot occupy certain positions.

“Against this background, I, some community leaders, and hundreds of our followers in Akamkpa/Biase federal constituency have endorsed and adopted the PDP governorship candidate, Prof. Sandy Onor, ahead of 2023 polls.

“I believe that Sen. Onor can help us, we have discussed. He is very approachable and has a listening ear. We would try our best to mobilize for the election,” he stated.

On whether his support and campaign for the PDP candidate not amount to anti-party activity, he said: “I am still in the APC and a legacy member of the party.

“I have not defected, but the truth is that I am supporting the PDP because that is where the happiness of my people comes from. Besides, if my people are not happy in politics, I cannot even call myself a politician.”

He advised all the candidates and parties to play by the rules rather than engage in politics of propaganda and sentiments.

Also speaking on behalf of some community leaders, Chief Emmanuel Ogban, said, “Some of us have already made up our minds and are mobilizing our people to work for the PDP governorship candidate to fight marginalization in the south. We have been neglected.

“This 2023 election is not about party affairs, it is about capacity and credibility as well as who can deliver and redeem us from sufferings and economic doldrums,” he said.