JUST IN : Protest in C'River Over choice of PDP State Assembly Candidate

The protesters today in Ukelle

There was a protest by some members of North and South Ukelle communities in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State on Tuesday over the nomination of Mrs. Cynthia Nkasi as People's Democratic Party, PDP Yala 2 State Constituency candidate.

The crowd comprising of youths, women, community leaders and the elderly demanded that Nkasi's name be replaced with their preferred choice, Emmanuel Asegem.

They marched round the villages in the area carrying placards with various inscriptions  to call on Senator Ben Ayade, Governor of the state to prevail on the party to forward the name of Asegem as the candidate of the party to represent them in the state house in 2019.

Speaking, Mrs Agnes Igbang said that “We do not want imposition of leaders again in Ukelle  but should be allowed to choose those we want  and Emmanuel Asegem is our choice for the State House of Assembly  for Yala 2 constituency in 2019 and our Governor should do the needful by instructing the party to send his name because we voted for him during the primary”.

The protesters who chanted songs round the villages said they  are disheartened with the replacement of Asegem’s name with that of  Nkasi and insisted that the PDP would suffer repercussions if there is no reversal to their choice.

"This young man has been with us through thick and thin and we know his ability and capacity so bypassing him for that woman is against our will so we therefore insist for a reversal to our choice”. Agnes insisted.

Another speaker, Mr James Ebele said that the Governor’s election is on the same date with the House of Assembly elections and they do not want anything to affect the Governor's votes so they should be treated fairly by the party.

“We have mobilised about 60,000 votes in the six wards of Ukelle and we would return those votes to the Governor but if our choice is not nominated for the election, it will be difficult to bring out everybody on election day to vote and that may affect  his votes and we don’t want that to happen”. Ebele said.

He said in the past Ukelle has experienced imposition of leaders which is the reason for the non development of the place and averred that time has come for the people to be allowed to choose those to represent them.