C'River: Tension As APC Governorship Screening Committee Submits Report Today

By Obio Monday

Palpable tension has gripped governorship aspirants and their supporters in Cross River State, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship screening committee is set to submit its report today.

The party had set up a 7-man committee to the prune down the list of aspirants to two per Senatorial District.

The party stated that the aspirants had given it the go-ahead to purchase  only one nomination form for the governorship, a move aimed at arriving at a consensus.

 Announcing the constitution of the committee, the APC state Publicity Secretary, Erasmus Ekpang, said the committee is expected to submit its report before 12 noon, Friday May 6.

Members of the committee include: Sen. Victor Ndoma Egba (Chairman), High Chief Edem Duke (Member), Mr Eddy Achi ,(Member), Elder Bolaji Anani (Member),  Mr. Odey Ochicha (Member), Prince Ebuta Ayuk (Member) and Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa as Secretary.

Those who have already indicated interest to contest for the number one seat from Southern Senatorial District under APC are: Engr. Ben Akak, Mr. Asuquo Ekpenyong, Prof. Eyo Etim Nyong, Arc. Eyo Ndem, Senator Bassey Otu, Engr. Nsa Ekpenyong and Chief Ogban Ebock.

From Central Senatorial District, the contestants are: Senator John Owan-Enoh, Chief Chris Agara, Pastor Usani Usani and Prince Godswill Edward. Non from Northern Senatorial District, the zone where the incumbent governor, Ben Ayade hails from.

Governor Ayade had on several occasions, insisted that the next governor must come from Southern Senatorial District, an arrangement aspirants such as Owan-Enoh, Usani and Agara have kicked against.

Owan-Enoh, in a statement recently, insisted that if the party should buy only one nomination form for governorship, it must be in his name, an indication that the governorship hopeful may not accept the outcome of the committee's report.

GRASSROOT REPORTERS gathered that fear has gripped the camps of the aspirants as they await the outcome of the committee's screening report.

Non of the aspirants has so far purchased the APC's nomination form, as sales of forms closes May 10.

Findings by GRASSROOT REPORTERS indicated that some of the aspirants especially from the Central Senatorial District may not abide by the party's consensus arrangement, as they have concluded plans to purchase the nomination form before it closes.