LG Elections: Effiom, Effiong, Archibong, Asido Set to Emerge APC Chairmanship Candidates for Bakassi, Akpabuyo, Calabar South, Odukpani

Ndifereke BASSEY

Palpable fear and tension have gripped the political class, especially the chairmanship aspirants, and their god-fathers, ahead of party primaries in readiness for the local government elections slated for November 2, 2024.

The release of election time table by Cross River state Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC ) has led to beehive of activities as stakeholders and aspirants have been traversing the length and breadth of various council wards soliciting support from party members.

In the Southern senatorial District, the stakes are high in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), considering the fact the incumbent Governor, Bassey Otu, comes from the zone and would naturally be interested in who emerges from the zone.

As characteristics of the electioneering processes, there have been avalanche of chairmanship aspirants across the seven local government areas of the Southern Senatorial zone including Bakassi Akpabuyo, Calabar South, Municipality, Odukpani, Akamkpa and Biase.

As the screening commences, three top aspirants are expected to emerge and their names will be submitted to the various caucuses for onward consideration and subsequent consensus selection.

BAKASSI LGA: Checks by THE BEAGLE NEWS have shown that in Bakassi local government area, the race is between Messers Effiong Eyen and Iyadim Iyadim.

Both of them are grassroots mobilisers and die-hards of Otu'administration.

Iyadim's supporters have argued that the immediate-past chairman played a key role in Otu's campaigns and should be compensated.

They equally argued that Otu, had during electioneering, promised Iyadim second term council ticket for his unflinching support.

However, Sen. Florence Ita Giwa and the Paramount Ruler of Bakassi, HRM Etim Okon, are still lobbying for their favoured candidates.

But Otu's kitchen cabinet seems to be disposed to Effiong Eyen and he may likely emerge as the Bakassi chairman standard bearer.

ODUKPANI LGA: In Odukpani, council election is usually zoned bewteen Constituency I and II.

Presently, Constituency I parades an array of elected political officers and appointees.

The Governor, Sen. Bassey Otu, the State House of Assembly lawmaker, Rep. Bassey Akiba and Commissioner for Justice, Ani, all come from Constituency I, while Constituency II has the Senator representing Southern senatorial district, Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr.

For the chairmanship, Asido Etim, from a ward in Iboku Constituency I and Wilson Ekpenyong, from Eniong in Constituency II, are the leading contenders.

While Etim is from the same ward with HE Otu, Wilson is from the same Eniong with Sen. Ekpenyong.

Stakeholders maintain that Asido is a loyal party man, committed and a grassroots politician who has contested severally for Odukpani chairmanship seat to no avail.

To this group, Asido should be given the chance this time even as Otu is from the same constituency.

He is also said to be favoured by party leadership in Constituency I.

For Wilson, the elders of Eniong are solidly behind him and clamoring that Constituency II be allowed to produce chairman.

Checks revealed that ASIDO Etim may fly APC flag on November 2, 2024 election.

CALABAR SOUTH LGA: Calabar South parades about 8 chairmanship aspirants and almost all from ward 3.

Like Odukpani, Calabar South also parades appointees including the incumbent Chief of Staff, Chief Emmanuel Ironbar.

The Chief of Staff will have a big influence on who emerges. Checks revealed that Patrick Archibong, Bassey Anamntaqua and Oliver Orok are the top three chairmanship aspirants.

The trio worked tirelessly for Sen Bassey Otu at the 2023 elections, but Archibong is said to have a personal relationship with the Governor and is said to have been with him through thick and thin.

The odds favour PATRICK ARCHIBONG.

CALABAR MUNICIPALITY: Municipality also parades an array of aspirants who are worth their onions. 

They also zone the chairmanship between Zone I (wards 1-5) and Zone II ( wards 6-10).

Both zones have their share of elected and appointed officers.

While the House of Assembly members for Calabar Municipality, Hon Stanley Nsemo, the immediate past council chairman, Chief Nta Eke, and Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Mr. Felix Idem, all hail from Zone 2.

Therefore, the stakeholders argue vehemently that it is the turn of Zone I to produce chairman this time. Checks reveal that Iso Edim from Qua Zone 1 (1-5) Captain Otu (Special Adviser, Marine Affairs), Bassey Effiong (Basol), and Victor Ema, all from Zone I, top the chart.

All the aspirants are party loyalists and ardent supporters of Prince Otu.

Stakeholders have further argued that Nta Eke should step aside considering the fact his Zone produced the last council chairman, in his person just as they have advised Captain Otu to hold on to his political appointment even as his younger sister, Surveyor Nkoyo Otu is also a Special Adviser Inter party Affairs.

But Nta Eke, like Iyadim of Bakassi, is banking on the promise made by the Governor Otu to give immediate past chairmen second term tickets for their steadfastness shortly after the election.

Bassey Effiong is said to be pushing hard to clinch the ticket. Checks showed that the battle is between Effiong and Captain Otu. But a reliable source hinted THE BEAGLE NEWS that a dark horse may emerge as chairmanship candidate for Municipality.

AKPABUYO LGA: Akpabuyo also parades some political heavy weights like Etubom Bassey Ndem, but it seems that Bassey Bassey Effiom (BB) is the favoured chairmanship candidate.