In Cross River LG polls, APC sure of victory, PDP decries hoarding of materials

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Governor Bassey Otu cast his vote

By Akpan David, Calabar 

Local Government Council elections held in most of the wards and councils in the 18 local governments of Cross River State on Saturday 2nd November 2024.

All candidates of the ruling party in the state, APC, have expressed optimism of coasting home in victory as they claimed to have prepared well for the exercise. 

Meanwhile, stalwarts and polling agents in the key opposition party in the State, the PDP, have decried irregularity and alleged hoarding of electoral materials.

Many said giving less than one month to prepare for the election was deliberate by CROSIEC to enable the ruling party carry the day.

In Ogoja LGA, the Peoples Democratic  Party decried the absence of results sheets across the 54 wards that make up the five local government areas of Cross River North for the ongoing council elections in the state.

Chief Austin Edibe, the PDP Vice chairman for the northern senatorial district described the ongoing council poll as a sham, skewed to favour tAPC candidates. 

“This whole exercise was programmed in favour of the APC from the word go, but we were willing to take the risk with the hope that their conscience will appeal to them.

Mrs Archibong Eso, Vice Chairman candidate for APC in Bakassi LG votes

“As I speak with you, there is no result sheets provided for the whole Ogoja, Yala, Obanliku, Obudu and Bekwarra council areas. That is the report am getting from the field.

“Ordinarily,  we are supposed to have result sheets at all the collation centers and at the ward level chapters, but unfortunately that is the position of things as we speak.”

But in Etung LGA in the central Cross River, there was massive turn out of voters across various polling units, and election commenced in time.

Dr Ramsey Ebam Ndep, Special Adviser to the Governor on Climate Change, said the election was relatively peaceful. 

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Asset Management and Recovery, Barrister Gilbert Ntui, said: “We can tell you that the election is largely very peaceful and the turn out is very impressive. We are optimistic that APC will carry the day because we are the people’s choice.”

Commissioner for health, Dr Henry Egbe Ayuk said it was one of the most peaceful elections ever conducted in the State. We shall continue to improve on our electoral processes.”

Meanwhile, the Cross River Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) has debunked  allegations of materials hijack, stressing that voting was in progress across the state.

The Commission’s chairman, Dr Ekong Boco, said  CROSIEC had done all it could to ensure a smooth and transparent process.

“All the voting materials left the Commission’s office yesterday and we had everything programmed to commence early today but the parties agents delayed the process because of mutual suspicions,” he stated.

The State Security Adviser in charge of Southern Senatorial District, Navy Captain Odiong Bassey (rtd) told journalists that security men were fully on ground in all the centres to contain possible public disturbances.

“We’ve security men all over the place. We’re happy that everywhere is peaceful. We patrolled all the Councils and the presence of our men in all the polling centres is confirmed. There have been no security issues, at least in three southern Cross River State,” he said.