Crisis in Cross River PDP over membership of aspirant
The Cross Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is currently engulfed in crisis over whether one of its governorship aspirants, Prince Goddy Jeddy-Agba, is a member of the party.
Jeddy- Agba’s supporters have accused top officials of the state government of trying to frustrate his ambition on grounds that the aspirant is not known to be a PDP member in the state.
Chairman of the (PDP) in Cross River State, Ntufam John Okon said Jeddy- Agba never belonged to the party saying he is a complete stranger to the state and that the party is not prepared to hand over the state to somebody not known to them stressing that his name is not in the party’s register.
The PDP chairman insists the party will not allow Agba to participate in the processes that would lead to the party primaries as he alleged that the aspirant is not eligible to contest on the platform of the PDP.
Said he: “Jeddy Jeddy-Agba is a civil servant and no civil servant can be a card carrying member of any party. And so, it is not possible to allow him participate in political processes towards 2015 governorship election in the state.”
He said anybody can claim to be a card carrying member of the PDP by printing his own card but such a person cannot have his name on the register of the party and as such is not a member of the party.
A member of Agba’s campaign team, Gabriel Okorie, However faulted the claim by the state PDP chairman and accused the state government of being all out to frustrate the ambition of the aspirant due to what he called ‘his popular acceptance.’
Okorie said: “since the emergence of Jeddy-Agba the governor has been frightened, plotting to block our man knowing that his anointed cannot withstand his capacity and popularity.”
Former commissioner in the state, Mr. Venatius Ikem, said as far as they are concerned Jeddy-Agba is a PDP member.
“We know that Jeddy Agba is an authentic member of the PDP and duly registered in his ward. We have a photocopy of the register of Goddy’s ward. Let them try anything and we will take it up with the party at the appropriate party level,” he said.