BY: Nick Nwaneri, Calabar
The leadinggovernorship aspirant on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Distinguished Senator Gershom Bassey, has dissociated himself from any decisions taken in a meeting held at the residence of former governor Donald Duke , which purportedly chose a governorship aspirant as a consensus candidate of the PDP in the southern senatorial district of the state.
In a statement in Calabar Senator Bassey said, he attended a meeting called by former governor Duke out of respect with others including traditional rulers,some community leaders and group of predominantly non PDP party men and women, including Etubom Duke, Chief Akamkpo Aniyom, High Chief Archibong Omon and Prof Itam.
Others were Etubom Ironbar,John Offiong,Mrs Ise,Chief Gersh Henshaw and Senator Ewa Henshaw among others.
According to the governorship aspirant he decided to leave the meeting when he noticed certain unconstitutional moves as he wasn’t ready to be a part of any illegality.
He referred to section 82,sub section 4 of the 2022 Electoral Act,which States that a consensus Candidate can only emerge when all cleared aspirants,through a written agreement give their consents and voluntarily withdraw from the race and endorse the consensus candidate.
He said that process was not followed and wondered how a so called consensus candidate emerged, describing it as a joke.
Senator Bassey maintainer that he was poised to win the party primaries and will not be deterred by any distractions.
