Ayade allegation that I brought cultists to Obudu childish -APC Guber aspirant

Cross River State All Progressives Congress (APC), governorship aspirant Rt. Hon. Paul Adah has described as "very childish" allegation by the state Governor, Ben Ayade that he brought thugs and cultists to Obudu during the August 11st Obudu state constituency bye-election.

Adah was reacting to a statement issued by Governor Ayade through the Attotney General of the State, Joe Abang during a world press conference in the Exco Chambers, Governor's office, Calabar that Adah and another governorship aspirant, Barr. Venatius Ikem were the sponsors of the 12 cultists who were arrested by security operatives last week.

He said that "It's childish and undemocratic for Governor Ben Ayade to inform the world that a party stalwart voted for the candidate of his party.

"I never brought cultists to Obudu for a mere State House bye-election. I never did in the three elections I ran and will never do. I am not even aware cultists were arrested not to talk of going to the police station to intervene".

Gov. Ayade had said that the decision of PDP stakeholders to make wife of late assembly member, Abbey Ukpukpen succeed her husband didn't go down well with the duo who resorted to allegedly hiring thugs and cultists to disrupt the election.

The said the security situation caused by the duo was responsible for the voters apathy witnessed during the bye-election.

He said "The decision to allow Mrs. Abbey Ukpukpen who is the from Abi local government area in Cross River State but legally married to Late. Hon. Stephen Ukpukpen to contest the bye-election didn't go down well with some Obudu sons, notably, Mr. Venatius Ikem and Rt. Hon. Paul Adah of the opposition party. This information was obtained after thorough interrogation of the arrested miscreants.

"The duo of Mr. Ikem and Hon. Paul Adah in their deliberate attempt to undermine the electoral process and ensure that a free and fair election is not conducted in Obudu state constituency to fill the vacant seat in the house of assembly, decided to enlist the support of thugs and cultists from different parts of the country who stormed Obudu few days to the election with dangerous weapons like guns, ammunitions and other offensive weapons to disrupt the election".

Ayade added that "The highly reprehensive activities of Mr. Ikem and Hon. Adah who brought the aforementioned thugs and cultists to Obudu accounted for the voters apathy in the just concluded Obudu House of Assembly bye-election where Mrs. Abbey Ukpukpen emerged victorious with less than 50% of the registered voters turning out to vote for fear of attack and reprisals".