A statement issued by Peter Inyanli, the Director General (DG) of John Upan Odey’s Campaign Organization on Wednesday and made available to DAILY POST, lamented the attitude of the committee.
According to him, “Cross River was listed as one of the states that APC will hold governorship primaries on Sunday, September 30th. But while materials were released and all necessary arrangements made in other states, materials were not seen in Cross River till about 4:30pm.
“Before we even got to know members of the primary committee sent to Cross River were in Calabar, the state capital with the materials, everything about their coming was shrouded in secrecy.”
He alleged that the National Vice Chairman, South South, Ntufam Hilliard Eta, connived with the state executive members led by state Chairman, Dr. Mathew Achigbe and doctored the results in favoured of another aspirant, Senator John Owan Enoh
Mr Inyanli said that it was after the three other aspirants, High Chief Edem Duke, Prof. Etim Nyong and John Upan Odey (represented) had briefed the press on the suspicion that another aspirant, Sen. John Owan Enoh used Eta and Achigbe to hijack the materials that the aspirant received a text message at about 3:57pm inviting him for a stakeholders’ meeting for 4:pm.
“My Principal hurriedly, attended the meeting and they agreed that materials should be handed over to the Police for custody as it was already too late to continue with the exercise.
“However, to our greatest surprise, people started filling results sheets that Sunday night. They released materials to a few wards in the central and southern senatorial districts on Monday but the materials for the entire northern senatorial district where I come from were hijacked by Owan Enoh.
“We want to state emphatically that there was no governorship primary in Cross River State. What happened was unfortunate, illegal and impunity of the highest level to say the least.
“The whole process was mar with irregularities, hijacking of materials and massive rigging. The results flying around are product of illegality and would not stand.
“It’s a big shame that APC, which has anti-corruption as it focal point has been reduced to a commercial tool where suspected looters come to launder their loots in Cross River State.
“Most of the APC leaders have already compromised because of the bribes they have collected from Owan Enoh to rig the election for him” he alleged.
“After due review of the whole process, John Upan Odey completely rejects the results and disassociates himself from whatever thing that happened that day.
“For fairness and equity, we urge the national leadership of the party to cancel the primaries and order a fresh one where people of integrity will be sent to conduct. Failure to do this, we will have no option than to challenge this illegality in court” he stated.
