LG Election: Non-Aligned Group Kicks Over Plot To Impose Chairmanship Candidate On APC Calabar Municipality
Ndifereke BASSEY
Cold war is raging in All Progressives Congress (APC) Calabar Municipality chapter over which faction produces the chairmanship candidate in the pending election.
Investigations revealed that APC Municipality is factionalised between the loyalists of Commissioner for Local Governemnt Affairs, Mr. Felix Idem, and Director-General, Cross River State Infrastructure , High Chief Effefiom Nta Eke.
The duo have been engaged in a battle of who controls the political structures and the revenue base of the local government.
A few weeks ago, Governor Bassey Otu had wadded into the matter, declaring Idem as the authentic political leader of Municipality and warned every political appointee to stay clear of revenue points and give peace a chance.
However, the Non-Aligned group, led by one Bassey Okon Asuquo, has expressed dismay that the peace in the Municipal may soon be shortlived as both factions have renewed their political battle ahead of local government elections.
The group revealed that the Commissioner for local government is fronting his chief of staff, one Bassey Effiom, for the local chairman against the traditional zoning arrangements between the two zones in Municipality.
According to the group, Effiom is billed to declare his intention on Saturday, August 31 and has been carrying out discreet consultations, allegedly boasting that he is the "ordained" candidate.
In a chat with THE BEAGLE NEWS, the leader of Non-Aligned, Bassey Okon Asuquo, disclosed that the chairmanship slot is zoned between wards 1-5 and wards 6-10.
While wards 1-5 run through Atimbo to Essien Town, wards 6-10 run through Ikot Ishie to 8 MIles.
"We are worried that one of the aides of local government commissioner, Effiom, has indicated strong interest to contest the next council election even when it is not the turn of their zone (wards1-5) to produce the next council chairman.
"Governor had told us, in one of stakeholders' meeting, that all contending factions should lay down arms on the issue of who produced council chairman, advising all to allow peace to reign by allowing the people to decide who leads them in line with the zoning arrangements in the Municipality.
"The Governor had stated in the meeting that Municipality needs a chairman that is non-alligned, that would not award contracts to himself and would not be greedy.
So, we expect Felix Idem, who is the political leader, to abide by Otu's directive rather than allowing his chief of staff to throw his hat into the ring.
"We call on Effiom and his Oga, Felix Idem, to bury their ambition and allow peace to reign.
If we claim to be loyal to Otu, we should follow the due process.
We also call on Governor Otu to call his commissioner to order as allowing Effiom run the race amounts to tacit support.
Checks by THE BEAGLE NEWS revealed that Effiom's ambition is generating tension among the political class as the opposing faction led by former Municipality chairman, Eke, are also re-oiling their political machinery to challenge Effiom's.
Nta Eke's faction are piqued that Commissioner for local government is flouting the stakeholders's tacit agreement and directive from Governor Bassey Otu that all factions should sheath their swords with regard to council election.
