2023: PDP youths protest fielding inappropriate candidate as running mate of flagbearer in Cross River
There was traffic gridlock on Mary Slessor Avenue yesterday as angry youths in the PDP fold from Calabar South, Akpabuyo and Bakassi Local Government Areas staged a protest carrying play-cards of different inscriptions and demanding that stakeholders be allowed to produce a woman as running mate to the PDP governorship flag bearer, Senator (Prof.) Sandy Onor in the 2023 general elections.
The youths urged the party leadership not to allow a PDP House of Reps aspirant during the party primaries, Mrs. Emana Ambrose Amahwe to be Sandy Onor’s running mate saying she is a political neophyte and should not reap where she did not sow. They reiterated that anything short of their demands will sink the PDP in the forthcoming general elections.
The protesters who marched to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Secretariat along Mary Slessor Avenue in Calabar chanted, “We want a woman with the capacity to pair the political caterpillar, Senator Sandy Onor” in facilitating victory for PDP in the 2023 governorship election.
Speaking to newsmen at the event, the PDP Ward 9 chairman, Edem Oyom said the party would thoroughly screen individuals seeking to vie for the position of running mate to Senator Onor to help PDP wrest power from the APC in the 2023 general elections.
Addressing the protesting youths on behalf of the Cross River State Party Chairman, the PDP State Secretary Mr. Tony Idako appealed for calm and promised to convey the message to the party chairman, Barrister Venatius Ikem who was not around at the time of the visit. He said their demand for a woman of integrity, political sagacity, and grassroots bend would be considered in making a choice.
Reacting to the protest on the phone Mrs. Emana Amahwe lost the primaries to RT. Hon. Apostle Essien Ayi who is the incumbent PDP House of Representative member for Calabar South, Akpabuyo, and Bakassi Federal Constituency said that she prefers to go about her business than join issues with anyone.
In a subsequent development, a former councilor from Ward 5 in Calabar Municipal Council, Hon Inyang Bassey has suggested that since the party has decided to field a female running mate to pair Senator (Prof.) Sandy Onor for the 2023 governorship elections in Cross River State, Hon. Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo would fit the position as a former Ambassador to the Africa Union in Ethiopia as well as a former member representing Calabar municipal and Odukpani Federal Constituency in the National Assembly.
He posited that Ambassador Toyo has the pedigree and political clout to help PDP win the governorship election given her popularity and intimate connection with the grass- root people.
Efforts to elicit comment from Hon. Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo on the issue proved abortive as at the time of filing this report.
By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)
