By Our Reporter
The OBIdient Movement (TOM) in Cross River State has warned the National Democratic Congress (NDC) against choosing its governorship candidate from the northern part of the State .
In a press statement signed by its State Coordinator, Obonganwan Barbara James, Secretary Kinie Bassey Willie, State Advisory Committee members Ray Ugba Murphy, Engr Bassey Ekefre and others, the movement said choosing a candidate of northern Cross River extraction would frustrate existing zoning protocols and jeopardize the chances of the party in the State.
The statement read in part: “The zoning agreement in favour of the South Senatorial district of the State as concerns the governorship candidate is being maligned by the party leadership.
“A candidate from the northern senatorial district is being allowed to present himself as a governorship aspirant against the existing zoning and rotation arrangement of the state existing since 1999.”
The group expressed frustration on the inability of the NDC leadership to carry critical stakeholders, especially the OBIdient movement along saying the breakdown of official communication has left members relying entirely on rumors and third-party speculations.
“There is no transparency concerning the forth-coming primaries. Most aspirants including the OBidients are not being carried along.
“There is zero communication from the party secretariat, and we seem to just be acting on rumours and third party speculations which leaves us to suspect that secret primaries are being held without the knowledge of both voters and aspirants,” it stated.
The Movement further warned that the enumerated developments could create friction within the party, and therefore appealed to the NDC national Leadership to intervene immediately so as to give Nigerians credible alternative where they could discharge their rights to vote and be voted for.
