Cross River PFN rocks over meddling in politics; others
All is seemingly not well with the Cross River State Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), an arm of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) given the unease generated by complicity of the body in political matters in the state.
The issue currently bedeviling the PFN, Cross River State chapter is the choice of its preferred governorship candidate in the March 11th 2023 polls in the state.
The Cross River State Chapter of the religious body on Monday March 6, 2023 released a press statement endorsing the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as its preferred candidate.
The documented position signed by the state chairman, Pastor Lawrence Ekwok, the General Secretary-Apostle Frank Umo and the State Director in charge of politics and Good Governance – Pastor (Prof.) Kyrian Ojong said the selection of Senator (Prof.) Sandy Onoh was done through secret balloting where a total of 429 leaders at the Local Government level voted and the PDP candidate scored 260 votes to beat the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate – Senator Prince Bassey Otu who scored 114 votes and the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) candidate – Pastor Usani Uguru Usani scored 47 votes while 8 votes were void.
On this premise, the body called on all members of the PFN in all the churches across the state to vote massively for the PDP governorship candidate in the March 11, 2023 governorship election saying the endorsement is the collective and unanimous position of the leaders of the PFN in Cross River state.
A rebuttal was issued by the National body of PFN through its National Publicity Secretary and signed by Bishop Emmah Isong saying that though the State PFN have the constitutional right to air their views, they should avoid a situation where the enemy will use politics to divide the church of the Living God.
The statement added that they have prayed and fasted and it is now time for the Almighty God to help Christians to vote wisely in the March 11, 2023 polls as PFN is treading with caution on political matters as it is a non-partisan platform.
In another development, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State has indicated intent to challenge the results of the just concluded Northern Senatorial District polls in the state.
The State Chairman of the party, Barrister Alphonsus Eba disclosed this during the week insisting that they were irregularities observed during the National Assembly elections and the party is looking into it.
Barrister Eba held that the polls were marred with violence and that the APC will legally get its stolen mandate back.
He said that their resolve is that electoral violence must be doused and will not be tolerated by APC members as airing members would be handed over to the security officials.
The Yala-born politician added that the party is puting finishing touches to its preparation for the governorship polls and encourage all members of the party to mobilize and guaranty victory for the party on March 11, 2023 polls.
Meanwhile, the Cross River State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has adopted the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Mr. Brian Odey for Yala I state constituency in the state House of Assembly election.
The adoption of the Labour Party candidate followed the decision of the Supreme Court which nullified the candidacy of the APC member representing Yala I state constituency at the Cross River State House of Assembly Hon. Regina Anyogo.
The state APC chairman Barrister Alphonsus Eba disclosed this in a media briefing with newsmen on Tuesday March 6, 2023 in the company of the Labour Party House of Assembly candidate Mr. Brian Odey saying both the Labour Party (LP) and APC parties have the same ideology and charged the Labour Party and APC Party members to support the APC governorship candidate Senator Prince Bassey Otu by voting for him as governor of the state in the March 11, 2023 polls.
In his remark, the Labour Party candidate for Yala I state constituency Mr. Brian Odey expressed happiness over the endorsement of his candidature pledging to deliver the constituency to the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the governorship polls on March 11.
By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)
