Election 2019: Cross River SDP candidate pledges not to go to tribunal
- A governorship candidate in the just concluded election in Cross River state has said that he will not go to court over the result of the state's polls
- Eyo Ekpo of the Social Democratic Party said he would rather pray that Governor Ben Ayade’s second tenure would be better for the people of the state
- Ekpo also thanked his campaign team and supporters, saying God had blessed Cross River with human and material resources
The Cross River governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Eyo Ekpo, has pledged not to contest the result of the gubernatorial poll in the state at the election tribunal.
Ekpo, who described the March 9 governorship election in Cross River as an auction, said he would rather pray that Governor Ben Ayade’s second tenure would be better for the people of the state.
In a statement issued in Calabar on Tuesday, March 19, the SDP candidate Ekpo, described the governorship poll in the state as a bidding war and an auction in which funds were deployed for inordinate political ambition.
He said that any unbiased follower of his campaign would testify that residents of Cross River bought into his “Recover and Restore Programme” but the popular will was intimidated and subverted.
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“Sadly, the popular will was intimidated, subverted and cast aside by vote buying, multiple thumb printing, violence and malpractices.
“This was compounded by some SDP officers in the state who became traitors before and during the election, selling us out for a paltry mess of pottage.
“Nevertheless, I will not provide cannon fodder for lawyers and rumour mongers by going to an election tribunal.
“Instead, I will look to the future and join to pray that Governor Ben Ayade’s second tenure will be much better than the first,” he said.
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According to Ekpo, his manifesto and execution plan in a document titled: “Getting the Job Done,” was on the internet and the governor could look at it if indeed he is focused on serving the people.
He, however, thanked his campaign team and supporters, saying God had blessed Cross River with human and material resources.
He prayed for leadership with love and capacity to harness the resources of the state for the benefit of the people.
Ekpo noted that on the eve of the March 9 governorship election, some party officers of the SDP in the state allegedly endorsed the incumbent governor sparking off a division in the party in the state
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Paul Okorie, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi state has called for the probe of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the just concluded general elections in the state.
Okorie who made the call on Monday, March 18, in Abakaliki accused the electoral umpire of performing far below expectations in the conduct of the general elections in Ebonyi.
He alleged that the commission colluded with politicians to rig the elections in favour of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
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Source: Legit.ng
