2023: Groups Warn APC, PDP against Tinkering with Power Rotation in Cross Rivers

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Cross River Indigenous Groups (CRIGs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) against tinkering with power rotation in Cross River State.

The groups called on both the APC and PDP to strictly adhere, obey and implement the power sharing policy by ensuring that the governorship of Cross River State in 2023 gubernatorial election should be zoned to the Southern Senatorial District.

The Convener of the CRIGs, Mr. Paul Obi, stated this while addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja.

The groups insisted that its intervention was borne out of empirical evidence, which supported the fact that equitable distribution of political power has helped to entrench political stability in the state.

The group said that Cross River State has no reason to embark on rancorous and acrimonious politics ahead of 2023 elections.

It noted that the seamless transition of political power over the last twenty-three (23) years and the peaceful coexistence and atmosphere the state had witnessed is a testament to the idea of equity, fairness and justice.

It stated: “Let every political party, especially the APC and PDP be warned of the consequences of dispensing with the entitlements of any senatorial district in Cross River State in adhering (sic) to equitable distribution of power among the three senatorial districts.

“As danger lies ahead of such political party, because the neglected senatorial district will revolt en masse, and attract sympathy support from the other two senatorial districts. Just as it played out in 1999 when Dr. Eyo Etim Eyong of the Southern Senatorial District candidature in the then APP was neglected in favour of late Mr. Mark Ukpo, candidature of Northern Senatorial District.

“This action contradicted the famous 1980 Ogoja-Calabar Accord and the average understanding on the rotation of power then, given that Mr. Clemet Ebri, having served as Governor from Ogoja zone now made up of Central and Northern Senatorial Districts, it was morally binding for the South to produce the governor.”

The group warned that as a result of this incident, no one ever has dared or attempted to thwart or truncate power rotation in Cross River State politics.

“We, therefore, call on both the APC and PDP to strictly adhere, obey and implement the power sharing policy by ensuring that the governorship of Cross River State in 2023 gubernatorial election is zoned to the Southern Senatorial District,” the CRIGs said.