Political groups previously regarded as less popular in Cross River State have infiltrated the State’s nooks and crannies in preparation for the governorship elections.
These are the African Alliance (AA), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Labour Party (LP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Young Progressives Party (YPP).
Nobody gives them a chance; they are devalued and treated with contempt.
None of the other parties have reliable resources to take into consideration, with the exception of the PRP, which has the former minister of Niger Delta issues, Pastor Usani Usani, as its sole supporter and candidate for governor. He seems to be the only person associated with a fledgling group that he single-handedly revived after leaving APC.
Usani claimed that in order to win the state’s forthcoming governorship race, he will rely heavily on his popularity, goodwill, and political savvy. Nonetheless, he is not taken seriously by many.
Usani contends that persons and their positions, political platforms, and authenticity are what should win him support rather than the names of political parties. He also stated in an interview that he has them in quantum.
Usani, a former state APC chairman, claimed that after vigorously campaigning, he had the potential to win the governorship race.
Could it be that the APC and PDP, each of which some people anticipated would win the governorship election in the state, are now threatened by his entry into the race?
Usani has escaped multiple attempted murders. In September 2022, Usani had to petition the police commissioner over many threats against his life.
Another party that is more dangerous to the APC and PDP is the Labour Party.
The LP in the state is capitalising on the notoriety and appeal of Peter Obi, their party’s presidential candidate. But, many people no longer have faith in Ogar Osim, the flagbearer and a clergyman with the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star.
He is the party’s nominee for governor as well as its chairman. He served as a stand-in. He said that the national party headquarters asked him to run for both chairman and governor because no one else stepped forward to claim the governorship ticket.
While his running companion Ekpezu Obu, an ICT wizard and banker, is mobilising the youths who connect with him to his advantage, Osim has expanded his campaigning into the hinterlands.
Even if it doesn’t always seem to support Osim, LP in the state has ardent supporters.
One stroke of luck the LP candidate has is the throngs of devoted members of his religious group who might support him out of sentiment. He is regarded by them as a wise administrator.
Osim recently told journalists that he is in the race to win, not to pretend.
“LP is not a soft touch. We want to prevail in this governor’s contest. We possess sagacity. We are fully equipped to accomplish this. To elevate this state to a far higher level, Cross River needs new faces, hands, and ideas, he stated.
On another level, he claimed that the race was not a life-or-death situation.
“Even in the end, the outcome does not go in my favour. I won’t bring the heavens to an end. It’s not a life-or-death situation. Nonetheless, I am confident that God’s will will be carried out because of His higher plans for this state, the man remarked.
The ADC is another lesser-known party. Effiong Nyong is a contender for governor. Veteran broadcast and print journalist Nyong is.
Last Monday, Nyong was officially presented with the party flag by Elder Festus Igbinoba, national vice chairman of the party in the South-South.
This week, Nyong gave media a rundown of his ostensibly outstanding economic, tourism, maritime, and agricultural programmes.
He criticised how the state, in his opinion, had become bogged down and how resources had been syphoned off for personal gain.
He threatened to hold two former governors accountable for the waste of the N500 million Naira that had been given to the federal government every month since 2008 as part of the Bakassi Stabilization Fund, which was supposed to be used to develop the Bakassi LGA and relocate the affected families after the Bakassi peninsula was given to Cameroon.
The radio expert and socialite from Lagos has been consulting several youth organisations, including young artists.
Nyong questioned why the federal allocation of N1.5 billion per month would be necessary for every subsequent government. He promised to add 22 new local government development councils to the current 18 LGAs, and they would use the N100 million monthly contribution from the federal government to entice investment and development.
Nyong’s governorship campaign is driven by the support of the media and civil society organisations.
Ekeng Effiom is the Action Alliance candidate. Young and impressionable, he is unconcerned by the financial difficulties that his party and campaign are facing. Yet, he is confident that he will have an influence. He is reliant on his associations with political organisations.
The candidate for the Young Progressives Party, Joseph Coco-Bassey, a former INEC employee, stated, “My strength is built on grassroot acceptance owing to my long span of involvement in the mainstream Student and Youth activism with broad spectrum of mobilising and Human Capital Development geared towards their well-being.
“This is done by offering them chances and a setting that will facilitate their gradual development over time. This is also supported by a track record of trust that has been established over time, along with the bravery and skill to defend the rights of the populace. This distinguishes me and makes me seem most acceptable.
In order to give the public open access to him for closer contact, Coco-Bassey claimed that he is relying on town hall meetings for his campaign.
The SDP candidate, Effiom Okokon, claimed that the state required a change for the better.
“The HEARTS Initiative includes a Cross River State intervention strategy.
The APC and PDP, which up until recently were all in the same party, are old parties that the public are bored of.
Voters have made the decision to vote them out and have sided with SDP, the better option and third force, he said.
Can one of these parties upset the PDP and the APC, the two political heavyweights? Decision day is March 11.
