Decampment Rally: C’River Denies APC UJ Esuene Stadium

There are indications that the Cross River State Government has denied the All Progressives Congress (APC) the use of the UJ. Esuene stadium in Calabar for a mega rally to receive decampees from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party into the ruling party in the country.

On Wednesday, the state secretary of the APC who doubles as the chairman of the planning committee of the rally, Mr. Victor Ebong, issued a statement indicating that the UJ. Esuene stadium would be used.

The announcement read:“The National Working Committee of our great party led by the National Chairman, His Excellency, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, will be receiving new members of the party in Cross River State on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at the U.J.Esuene Stadium, Calabar at 10a.m.

The new members include Chief Clement D. Ebri former Governor of Cross River State, Senator Victor NdomaEgba, former Senate Leader, Sen Bassey Otu, Ambassador Soni Abang, Prince Goddy Jedy-Agba, Hon Venatius Ikem, Rt. Hon Paul Adah, Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo, Dr. Alex Egbona, Dr. Sandy Onor, Sony Etta, Hon Ernest Irek, Chief & Mrs Johnson Ebokpo, Dr Mathew Achigbe, and many others.

The Cross River State Working Committee will be honoured by your presence at the occassion which is intended to launch the party for electoral victory in the state.

Kindly accept this as our invitation to the occasion. We regret the short notice which is occasioned by the recent confirmation of the event. Remain assured of our esteem always.”

But, yesterday, the party made a u- turn and announced a new venue, following the alleged refusal of the state government to grant it the use of the stadium.

Sources the APC secretariat informed THISDAY that the party had applied to Governor Ben Ayade for the use of the stadium but until yesterday evening, there was no official response from the governor.

One of the party officials who refused to be quoted stated that the leadership of the APC in the state received a letter from one of the security agencies telling them to put off the rally entirely.

“We have a letter from the DSS urging us to put off the rally because the PDP is also staging a rally in Calabar on that day,” the source said.

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