Some aspirants in the Cross River State House of Representatives primaries have expressed dissatisfaction following the conclusion of the All Progressives Congress exercise across federal constituencies in the state.
The concerns are most pronounced in Akamkpa/Biase and Yala/Ogoja constituencies, where sitting lawmakers were dropped and replaced through consensus arrangements.
In Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency, sitting lawmaker Emil Inyang was replaced by Ngim Okpo as the party’s candidate.
Speaking in a telephone interview shortly after the primary election, Inyang expressed disappointment over the outcome of the process, alleging that the consensus arrangement lacked broad consultation and did not reflect ward-level participation as seen in other constituencies.
He questioned the inclusiveness of the exercise, saying stakeholders were not adequately carried along in the decision-making process.
In Yala/Ogoja Federal Constituency, Godwin Offiono was replaced by Stella Odey as the APC candidate.
Offiono subsequently protested at the council headquarters, describing the process as unfair and insisting that the consensus arrangement did not reflect the will of party members in the area.
The All Progressives Congress has however maintained that the primaries across the state were conducted in line with party guidelines.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
