Connect with us

Politics

Tension as godfathers fight for Cross River North Senate seat 

Published

on



Tension as godfathers fight for Cross River North Senate seat 

OGOJA- THREE prominent political figures are battling for the Senate position of Cross River North otherwise known as Ogoja Senatorial District and the ensuing war is causing tension in the area.

Since November last year, there has been no letup in the political cannon fire as the three titans: Senator Ben Ayade , immediate past governor of the state, Senator Jarigbe Agom who presently occupies the Senate post, Mr Legor Idagbo, a former two-time member of the House of Representatives, are locking horns for the one seat.

The three pugilists are pouring everything within their reach into the fierce battle: money, social media propaganda, contacts, and I dare say – blackmail – as they seek to outdo one another in the political warfare.

Interestingly, the three are all members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the ruling party in the state. Ayade, then as governor took the leap in the dark in 2020 as the first APC governor in the South-South when he felt there was an internal gang up with external backing to undo him in the People’s Democratic Party, PDP and decided to move to the APC. He succeeded to hoist a strong base for the APC with the party winning the governorship, six House of Representatives positions, and two Senate positions and he ironically lost his bid to move to the Senate after his governorship slot.

Jarigbe on the other hand, moved to the APC a few months ago, November to be precise. He and the two House of Representatives members were the only PDP elected officials in the state and he as the highest official was under intense pressure from his followers so when the opportunity beckoned following the war of attrition in the PDP, he joined the bandwagon of defectors and moved to the APC.

  

Mr Idagbo, the two-time member of the House of Representatives moved alongside Ayade in 2020 with fanfare and razmatazz. He was in the House of Representatives when he moved and incidentally, he too, like Ayade, lost the re-election bid in 2023. He lost to Peter Akpanke of PDP and has since been keeping low profile until recently when his political soulmates promoted him to throw his hat into the ring and gun for the Senate ticket under APC.

Incidentally, the ambition of these three has led to a lot of realignment among the politicians and followers in the district. Some call the realignment political treachery and backstabbing while some see it as part of the game on the political chess board. The first change of sides was the one led by Ayade’s former Chief of Staff, Mr Martins Orim, for eight years. He joined Senator Jarigbe in 2023. He led quite a number of Ayade’s acolytes to cross-carpet to the Jarigbe camp. People like Peter Ojei, who was Ayade’s Special Adviser on Political Matters, Mrs Cynthia Nkasi and Regina Anyogho, both former members of the Cross River State House of Assembly alongside a legion of the former governor’s political aides.

Jarigbe on the other hand has lost two of his political soulmates, Peter Akpanke and Godwin Offiono, both House of Representatives members with whom he joined forces to take the district for PDP in the 2023 election. Akpanke is said to be working with Ayade and some say he is working with Idagbo. He is a crowd puller and anyone he works with is certain to have a seeming leverage and advantage. Offiono on the other hand seems to be pulling it alone. His elder brother is a billionaire and funding his campaign won’t be much of a problem. He is said to be making a lot of impact in his consultation by showcasing a plethora of projects he influenced in the past three years.

These issues have been at the centre stage of the political turf in the senatorial district. Each aspirant is working hard to be the flag bearer of the party. Seemingly, there is no one yet showing much interest in the Senate on the African Democratic Congress, ADC platform except for the House of Representatives where the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Zana Akpagu is indicating interest. The struggle for the Senate post of the district is so fierce that other districts seem to be watching from the sidelines as if election won’t take place there.

In a show of prowess, the former governor recently bought new motorcycles for the 50 ward chairmen and new cars for the five chapter chairmen of the district. He declared free transport for those travelling from Calabar, the state capital, to the north, a distance of four hundred kilometres and cost about N20,000 on commercial transport. Jarigbe on the other hand has been touring the local government areas that constitute the district, splashing money on ward, chapter executives and party members in tens of millions. He also inaugurated a scholarship scheme where he splashed fifty million naira on the students across the five local government areas that constitute the district. 

During the national congress of the APC, Ayade hosted the delegates from the district in his Abuja home where he splashed cash on them. He told the cheering delegates that “during my time, I gave tickets, the father of a king is not a king but the father of a king. We should support and give the governor the free hand to pick who he wishes.”

Jarigbe on the other hand threw a challenge to his opponents to go on a referendum to ascertain who has the support of the people, claiming that the people of the district are with him, “step by step”.

From every indication., the APC has a difficult choice to make among these three persons. Which ever way the party goes— direct primaries or consensus, a lot of feathers would be ruffled and egos bruised which means, the party has a lot of discussion, confidence- building and ego-assuaging to embark on to keep its house as one.

The post Tension as godfathers fight for Cross River North Senate seat  appeared first on Vanguard News.


www.vanguardngr.com

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Politics

ADC constitutes Ekiti governorship campaign committee [PHOTO]

Published

on

By


The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has officially constituted its Ekiti State Governorship Campaign Committee.

The inauguration is part of preparations for the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

This is contained in a statement posted on its verified X handle late Saturday.

According to the statement, the committee is tasked with coordinating campaign activities, mobilizing support across the state, engaging critical stakeholders, and driving the party’s vision and message to every community in Ekiti State.

The party congratulated all members appointed to serve on the committee and expresses confidence in their capacity, commitment, and dedication to delivering a successful campaign.

“Together, we remain focused on providing the people of Ekiti State with credible leadership, responsible governance, and a brighter future.

“Congratulations to all members of the Ekiti State Governorship Campaign Committee,” the statement read.




dailypost.ng

Continue Reading

Politics

Shun divisive statements, unite for 2027 victory – Oladele tells Ogun APC members

Published

on

By


Former Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, FCC, and prominent leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Kayode Oladele, has advised party members to consolidate the gains of the primary election and build unity rather than dwell on post-contest grievances.

Oladele noted that the primary election is over and party members must unite to ensure victory for the APC in the forthcoming general election.
He stated this on Sunday in a statement made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, stressing that personal ambitions must give way to the collective interest of the party and the people of Ogun State.

The former member of the House of Representatives for the Yewa North/Imeko-Afon Federal Constituency warned against actions and statements capable of creating divisions within the party, arguing that the APC’s chances in the forthcoming election would be enhanced by unity, discipline, and unwavering support for its candidate, Senator Olamilekan Adeola.

He said, “The primary election has come and gone. The party has spoken through its members and produced a candidate who enjoys broad support across Ogun State—something that has never happened before in the history of the state.

“The responsibility before all of us now is to work together, close ranks, and ensure victory for the APC in the forthcoming election. Personal ambitions must give way to the collective interest of the party and the people of Ogun State.”

Oladele stated that the outcome of the primary election clearly demonstrated the overwhelming preference of party members for Senator Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, who eventually emerged as the APC governorship candidate.

Recall that Yayi was adopted by the party as its consensus and preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
However, former General Manager of the Ogun State Waste Management Agency (OGWAMA), Mr. Abayomi Hunye, also picked the governorship nomination and expression of interest forms despite the party’s position of nominating Adeola as its consensus candidate.

Speaking on the outcome of the exercise, Oladele asserted that Hunye was ill-advised to have participated in the primary election, arguing that he lacked the necessary political structure, grassroots network, and broad-based acceptance among party members.
“Mr. Hunye was ill-advised to enter the race without first establishing a formidable political structure and cultivating the support necessary to compete effectively in a statewide contest.

“The fact that Senator Adeola secured overwhelming support in Mr. Hunye’s own ward of Tube is significant. Hunye was outrightly rejected in his ward. Politics begins from one’s immediate constituency,” the statement added.

According to him, when an aspirant is unable to secure any support from his own ward, it becomes difficult to convince others that he possesses the statewide appeal required to win a governorship election.

Recall that the Chairman of the Ogun State Governorship Electoral Committee, Wale Ohu, announced that Adeola secured 304,055 votes out of the 305,287 accredited voters who participated in the exercise, while Hunye polled no votes.




dailypost.ng

Continue Reading

Politics

2027: Enugu’s endorsement of Tinubu demonstration of political maturity – Nwoye

Published

on

By


Deputy National Chairman, (South) of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Barr Ben Nwoye, on Saturday, expressed delight over the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu and Peter Mbah for second terms in office by political leaders and stakeholders from Enugu East Senatorial District.

Nwoye described the move as a demonstration of political maturity and commitment to continuity.

He spoke at the Okpara Square, Enugu, during a gathering where stakeholders from Enugu East Senatorial District publicly declared their support for the re-election of President Tinubu and Governor Mbah.

Addressing the crowd, the APC chieftain praised the leaders of the district for what he described as a bold and visionary decision aimed at sustaining ongoing development efforts at both the federal and state levels.

“I have seen people like the former governor of old Anambra State; I have also seen the former Senate president, Chief Ken Nnamani and I have equally seen a lot of the founders and leaders of Enugu State here, all for the endorsement of our dear President, Bola Tinubu and Governor Peter Mbah. I’m quite impressed because your presence shows political maturity”, Nwoye said.

He noted that continuity in leadership would provide the opportunity to consolidate existing achievements and complete projects already initiated by the two administrations.

Nwoye particularly lauded Governor Mbah for his developmental strides across Enugu State, saying the governor had demonstrated commitment to transforming the state through infrastructure, economic and social development programmes.

According to him, the governor’s performance had earned him widespread support across political and regional divides.

The APC deputy national chairman also used the occasion to highlight the importance of the governorship zoning arrangement in Enugu State, describing it as a key factor behind the peace and political stability the state has enjoyed since 1999.

“Rotation among the three senatorial districts has given us peace since 1999. 

“It is good that this event held today in addition to those of Enugu West and North senatorial zones so that our people will know where we are going,” Nwoye said.

He explained that the zoning formula had ensured fairness and equitable distribution of political power among the state’s three senatorial districts, thereby fostering unity and inclusion.

Nwoye urged political stakeholders to continue supporting the rotational arrangement, which he said had helped to maintain a peaceful political atmosphere in the state.

“The stakeholders should sustain the peaceful political atmosphere in Enugu State brought to us through the zoning of the governorship position,” he added.

The endorsement event attracted political leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community representatives and supporters from across Enugu East Senatorial District, many of whom expressed confidence in the leadership of President Tinubu and Governor Mbah.




dailypost.ng

Continue Reading

Trending