The flag
bearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the 2019 governorship election
in Cross River State, Senator John Owan-Enoh has begun consultations, as he
fights for his ambition to become the next Governor occupying Diamond Hill,
Calabar to displace the incumbent governor, Senator. Professor Ben Ayade.
52 year old
John Owan-Enoh recently presented his choice of running mate to some
stakeholders of the party in the state in person of Ntufam Ekpo Okon.
Speaking
while presenting Ntufam Okon to party stakeholders, Sen. Owan-Enoh appealed to
members of the party who are rightly “foundation members” and acknowledged
their efforts in nurturing the party overtime without his immediate
consideration of them for his choice of running mate.
According to
the Governorship Candidate, the choice of Ntufam Ekpo Okon as Deputy
Governorship Candidate was to add value to the party’s quest for elections
victory.
He promised
to unite all interest groups and call on all hands to be on deck to secure
victory for the APC in the state.
He said:
“With victory we will be in government and many will be called upon to take
responsibility in developing the state and giving us better days as a people.”
Sen.
Owan-Enoh debunked the rumour that he had offered the position of running mate
to many others before deciding on Ntufam Ekpo Okon.
He also
addressed the issue over his position as the party’s flag bearer in the state
saying that contrary to rumour that his name has been replaced with that of the
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Usani, he still remains the
party’s flag-bearer for next year’s polls.
He explained
that the issue of “maintaining status quo” as ruled by an Abuja High Court was
in his favour as his name was already submitted to the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) before the ruling.
He further
appealed for tolerance and unity among members so to enable the party change
the current narrative of the state.
Also
speaking at the stakeholders’ meeting in Calabar, the state capital, the National
Vice Chairman, South-South of the party, Ntufam Hilliard Eta, affirmed that the
party leadership at the national level has already transmitted the name of
Senator Owan-Enoh to INEC as the duly elected Governorship Candidate in the
state adding that it’s only by certain constitutional somersaults that he can
forfeit his candidature.
He also
urged members of the party and the electorate to disregard insinuations that a
Court has recognized Pastor Usani Usani as the party’s Candidate for the
governorship polls.
Responding,
Ntufam Ekpo Okon, the deputy governorship candidate, said he views the new
responsibility as a burden he is ready to bear for the sake of taking Cross
River out of the woods adding that he’ll ensure that he brings his wealth of
experience and goodwill to bear in the party’s quest to win next year’s polls.
The state
chairman of the party, Dr. Matthew Achigbe said at the meeting that the party
is more formidable, more robust and stronger to win the 2019 polls.
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