Ayade, Ndoma Egba, Owan-Eno, Giwa, Speaker, Egbona Lose Out of Power Game as Dark Horses Emerge APC Chairmanship Candidates in C'River

...Deputy Gov,  Udiandey, Dansuki's Allies Emerge in Ogoja, Obudu, Akamkpa

Judex OKORO 

Political big-wigs in Cross River All Progressives Congress Party (APC) have lost out in their bid to install their cronies as next local government chairmen as dark horses have emerged, THE BEAGLE NEWS can authouritatively reveal.

Recall that THE BEAGLE NEWS had exclusively reported in September that Governor Bassey Otu had confided in some trusted allies that those who will emerge  as next council chairmen 'must be mortally loyal" to lead the grassroots governance.

The heavyweights that lost out of the power game at the just-concluded APC state caucus meeting where the final consensus candidates decision were chose on who to fly the party's flag for the November 2024 local government elections include immediate past Governor Ben Ayade (Obudu), Sen. Florence Ita Giwa (Bakassi),  Minister of Sports Sen. John Owan Enoh, and RT.Hon. Alex Egbona (Abi).

Others who lost out in the horse-trading and political intrigues are Ndoma Egba (Ikom), Amb. Soni Abang (Boki), Speaker Cross River State House of Assembly, RT. Hon. Elvert Ayambem (Ikom), Mr Pius Ankpo, Commissioner for works (Akamkpa) and some key political appointees who tried to scheme for their preferred candidates.

Gladiators who had their way at the caucus meeting include the Deputy Gov, Dr. Peter Odey (Ogoja), Chief Tony Udiandey (Obudu) and RT. Hon. Daniel Asuquo (Dansuki) Akamkpa.

From the camp of immediate past local government chairmen, who claimed that they had been unwritten agreement with Sen. Otu, The trio of High Chief Nta Eke (Municipality) and Iyadim Iyadim (Bakkasi) were equally tactically schemed out of the race.

SOUTHERN SENATORIAL DISTRICT 

BAKASSI LGA

In the Bakassi local government area, Effiong Eyen defeated the closest opponent, Iyadim Iyadim, the immediate-past chairman of Bakassi.

However, Sen. Florence Ita Giwa lost out this time as Otu's kitchen cabinet insisted on Effiong Eyen. This paper predicted his emergence on Saturday's online edition.

ODUKPANI LGA 
In the Odukpani local government area, Asido Etim emerged by defeating Darlington Edem and Hon. Wilson Ekpenyong who is from the Eniong axis. This paper predicted the emergence of the Asido Etim. 

CALABAR SOUTH LGA

Calabar South paraded about 8 chairmanship aspirants and almost all from ward 3.

 Patrick Archibong,as predicted by THE BEAGLE NEWS, clinched the chairmanship ticket to defeat  Bassey Anamntaqua and Oliver Orok. 

CALABAR MUNICIPALITY

Municipality also paraded an array of aspirants who are worth their onions but unfortunately the known names lost out to James Anam, former DG SEMA.

Anam, a dark horse in the race defeated Bassey Effiong (BASOL) and NTA Eke. He was said to be drafted in twenty-four hours to the primary election. Anam belongs to Prince Is Coming Support group 

AKPABUYO LGA

In Akpabuyo Bassey Bassey Effiom (BB) emerged chairman as he has been the favoured candidate from the outset. Effiom too belongs to the Prince Is Coming Support group.

AKAMKPA LGA

In Akamkpa, Mr. Felix Akposi, a strong community leader and an ally of RT. Hon. Daniel Asuquo (Dansuki), emerged chairman.

Felix defeated every other contestant including Dr.Valentine Ntui, Ogar Ogar, and Charles Ikpeme from Mbarakom who was being projected by Hom.Linus Etim, current Assembly member Constituency 2, Mrs Orok Agbor, former Rep Orok Agbor's wife, Mrs Titi Ndifon, mother-in-law of Commissioner for works, Pius Ankpo, Mrs. Eno Nsokpo, backed by Hon. Okon Owuna,  and Mrs Affiong Alphonsus Ekeng. 

BIASE LGA 

In Biase local government area, Edodi Edodi Eyong from Akpet/Abini ward defeated Dr. Ajah Ibiang Ajah (ANIJAH) from the Adim ward to emerge.

Eyong is an economist and respected leader, and enjoys widespread support from men, women, and youth alike. 

He was backed by some young political appointees including Commissioner for Youth, Bar. Ijom, Managing Director, Tourism Bureau, Prince Ojoi Ekpenyong, and Director General Bureau of Public Enterprise, Charles Atu.

However, THE BEAGLE NEWS  predicted his emergence.

CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT 

YAKURR LGA 

In Yakurr local government area, Yibila Inyang (DOMBRA) defeated one Felix Arikpo to clinch the chairmanship ticket.
DOMBRA was backed heavily by Hon. Cyril Omin (CY as popularly called).

ABI LGA

In Abi, Mr. Egbala Bassey defeated Godwin Igri to emerge chairman candidate for Nov. 2 local government elections. Bassey is a member of Prince Is Coming Support Group. Igri was backed by RT. Hon. Alex Egbona. 

OBUBRA LGA

As predicted by THE BEAGLE NEWS Agbor Apollo, whose project was driven by  Emma Abeng, (a member of the Forestry Commission)  emerged.

Apollo, a member  of Prince Is Coming Support Group,  defeated Elucate Okora, former member of the Cross River State House of Assembly, backed by commissioner for Agriculture, Ebokpo Johnson Junior; and Maurice Okora, an Abuja-based politician backed by the Minister of Sports, Sen. John Owan Eno. Maurice is Owan Eno's accountant.

ETUNG LGA

Henry Njar Anom carpeted Ogisa Okongor and Ndifon Stephen to emerge Etung APC candidate.

The anom campaign was driven by the commissioner for Health, Dr. Egbe Ayuk while John Owan Eno discreetly supported Stephen.

IKOM LGA
In Ikom, Pst. Mrs. Mercy Nsor defeated Mr. Felix Akposo to emerge APC candidate for the November council polls. Madam Nsor was one of the dark horses in the race 

BOKI LGA

In Boki, Mrs Beatrice Iyam emerged the surprise of some political heavyweights.

NORTHERN SENATORIAL DISTRICT 

OGOJA LGA

The Deputy Governor's ally, Chris Agbe, carried the day for the chairmanship position.

YALA LGA 
 
Eld. Fred Okem was a surprise consensus for Yala local government area council. 

Okem is said to be a close family friend of the First Family in the state, and was a former Vice Chairman of Yala during the era of Sen. Greg Ngaji as chairman of  council. He is the oldest candidate in the race.

BEKWARRA LGA

Lady Theresa Ushie, an Abuja-based business woman emerged as APC chairmanship candidate. She is said to be close to the First Lady and worked assiduously for Otu's emergence. 

OBUDU LGA 

In the Obudu local government area, former Governor Ben Ayade lost out to his former aide Chief Tony Udiandeye, whose younger brother, Peter Bars Udiandeye, emerged as a consensus candidate of APC. This signals the end of Ayade in Obudu politics even as it rumoured that the former Governor will produce all candidates in the north.

OBANLIKU LGA

IN Obanliku, Dr. Ayam emerged.  

Observers have argued that the emergence of these non-aligned chairmen across the board has proven that Otu is a man of his own and has discreetly taken over the structures of political governance at the grassroots.