From Idongesit Inyang
CALABAR
The senator representing the Central Senatorial District of Cross River who on Thursday picked the gubernatorial ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 general election has promised to offer the state a leadership that is different.
Also, Senator Bassey Otu who clinched the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Cross River State governorship primary election has promised to reposition Cross River State.
Professor Sandy Onor, defeated his colleague in the National Assembly, Sen. Gershom Bassey, who represents the Southern Senatorial District in the Ninth Assembly with a total votes of 236 to 175 votes.
Speaking on the victory, Onor said, God was about to do something new in Cross River.
He said, “We will take the state to where it used to be where people came and saw a clean and green environment.”
It would be recalled that other contestants were: Mr Arthur Archibong with six votes, Amb. Nkoyo Toyo, four votes, Imah Adegoke, one vote and Mrs Filia Henshaw, two votes.
One of the aspirants, Mr Effiok Cobham, former deputy governor of Cross River withdrew from the race.
Declaring the result, Mr Babajide Coker, chairman, PDP Cross River gubernatorial primary election who declared Onor winner said 591 voters were accredited and 591 votes were cast.
Coker added that 571 votes were valid while 20 votes were void saying “By the powers conferred on me as chairman of the electoral committee for the gubernatorial convention in Cross River, I hereby declare Sen. Sandy Onor, the winner of the election.
He added that “Having pulled the highest number of votes, he is hereby returned and elected.”
Meanwhile Senator Bassey Otu who has swept APC Cross River governorship primary, polled 811 votes to defeat the other two aspirants, Senator John Owan-Enoh who garnered 84 votes and Chris Agara that got 63 votes.
The primary, which was attended by the governor, Professor Ben Ayade, and bigwigs of the APC in Cross River State, was held at the U. J. Esuene Stadium.
The chairman of the Cross River State APC 2023 governorship primary election, Mr. Mohammed Manolo, counted the votes and said “by the powers conferred on me by the national leadership of the APC, I hereby declare Senator Bassey Otu elected as the governorship candidate of the Cross River All Progressives Congress.”
In a brief remark, Otu appreciated Governor Ben Ayade for the courage, dexterity and ethical standing and thanked the delegates for giving him their votes without any form of enticements.
Otu pledged to work with other aspirants and the people to reposition Cross River State, stating “I promise that we will continue where you will stop. We will make sure we take it to the level where all the people will benefit.”
Earlier, the governor, Professor Ben Ayade, had urged the 980 delegates to vote their conscience in the spirit of equity and fairness.
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