Drama At CROSIEC As APC Factions Flex Muscles

There was a mild drama at the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) when two people introduced themselves as state secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.
The crisis began as Mr. Victor Ebong cautioned CROSIEC to only recognize party executives who were recognized by the national body of their party as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), after Mr Francis Ekpenyong earlier spoke as party state secretary.
Ebong had said “Mr Chairman, I feel it is an embarrassment that you call a meeting of this magnitude and you refuse to do your homework of identifying those that are the authentic and eligible executives of their various political parties? I think it would be proper if you paste the names of those you are inviting to avoid rancour.”
Challenged by Ebong’s utterances, Ekpenyong said the APC recognized only Etim John’s Exco in Cross River and not John Ochala’s.
Ekpenyong is the State Secretary in the camp of former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, while Ebong is of the Ochala group, being the one that operates from the state secretariat.
However, capitalizing on the crisis, the Peoples Democratic Party State chairman, Mr. Inok Edem lambasts other political parties asking them to join the PDP, if they can’t manage their parties.
Enraged by Edem’s statement all other parties demanded the official withdrawal of the statement and a public apology. The PDP chair later withdrew the statement but refused to tender an apology.
Reacting to the PDP chair’s statement, Chairman of KOWA party in the state, Mr Erete Mposo said it was regrettable for a party chairman to be very rash and boastful in the presence of other men of importance.
“ It’s very unfortunate for a man that calls himself a leader to behave in such a manner. He should know that pride goes before a fall. Even if PDP is in power in the state today, there is that tendency that other political parties will also be there one day”