BY: VITALIS UGOH, Calabar
As the struggle for leadership of All Progressives’ Congress party 7(APC) in Cross River state rages on, one of the factions has protested against “wrongful exclusion” from the just concluded local government elections in the state.
In statement by its legal consultant Basic Rights Law Partners, “APC faction led by Mr. John Ochala are of the opinion that the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) wrongfully excluded them from the elections of today, May 30th, 2020”.
According to the brief, the aspirants of the Ochala’s faction were “among the numerous aspirants who obtained and submitted nomination forms of their party, the All Progressives’ Party (APC) for participation in the Cross River State Local Government Elections”,
Furthermore, the brief said that “recall that by a letter dated 5th February, 2020, the Cross River State Chapter Executives of the APC have since submitted to you her list of candidates for the local government elections.
It however, accused CROSIEC of “working and acting on a wrong list of APC candidates for the election”.
Also, the brief attempted to clarify CROSIEC on the authentic State EXCO of the party in Cross River State, a matter which has been in and out of court for more than three(3) years now. “You are aware that by a letter dated 29/11/2019 the National Chairman of the All Progressives’ Congress, Adams Aliyu Oshiomole has since identified to you that the Sir John Ochala led EXCO of the APC is the authentic State Executive Committee of the party in Cross River State.”
Attempts made to get a reaction John Ochala’s led APC failed as he could not be reached as at the time of filing this report
Earlier in a chat, the chairman of CRSIEC, Dr. Mike Ushie, said the election was free of violence as the turn out was impressive.