2023 General Elections: Essien Ayi seeks re-election into National Assembly, others
Contrary to speculations in the rumour-mill that the member representing Calabar South, Akpabuyo, and Bakassi in the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Apostle Essien Ayi is not seeking re-election to the green chambers of the National Assembly in 2023, the Cross River State publicity secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and delegate, Mr. Mike Ojisi has confirmed Wednesday that the incumbent has collected, filled, and submitted the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms personality to the appropriate offices of the party.
Ojisi disclosed this at the PDP State Headquarters along Mary Slessor Avenue in Calabar, Cross River State while fielding questions from a LENS reporter in his office today.
He debunked the claims by misinformed persons that Rt. Hon Essien Ayi is sick or tired to re-contest in 2023, saying it is not true and there is no vacancy for that position as far as PDP is concerned because his records of infrastructural development and human capacity empowerment speak and attests to why his constituents want him back to represent them in 2023.
In another development, Mr Ojisi also refuted claims that a female governorship aspirant and former Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia in the Africa Union, Hon (Mrs.) Nkoyo Toyo has stepped down to deputize a male aspirant from the Central Senatorial District in the 2023 governorship race.
He explained that she has collected, filled, and returned the expression of interest and nomination forms to contest for the office of the governor and is ready to participate in the primaries since PDP has thrown open the window for every aspirant to test his or her mettle as there is no consensus arrangement in the party for now.
He asked journalists and those in doubt of any information to feel free to contact his office which is always open to know the facts about any rumour emanating from the rumor-mill before making news out of it as according to him fake news destroys the fabric of the society.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a frontline Presidential aspirant, and former Vice-President have promised to bring back PDP to Cross River State in a speech at an interactive session with Cross River PDP delegates in Calabar over the weekend.
The Turakin Adamawa made the remark as he enjoined them to restore the party to power in the state by supporting him to do that and free the country from the dungeons of economic backwardness.
Alhaji Abubakar was welcomed to the state by Barrister Venatius Ikem, PDP State Chairman who assured him of the delegate votes to actualize his goal in 2023.
By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)
