Guber Tussle: ‘Ayade Can’t Be Conquered’ – PDP Stakeholders | WakaWaka Reporters
cross river gov

Guber Tussle: ‘Ayade Can’t Be Conquered’ – PDP Stakeholders

Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in Cross River State, on Thursday expressed confidence in the ability of their leader in the state, Governor Ben Ayade, to come out of his current legal battle victorious, saying the governor can’t be conquered by his political opponent.

Shortly after his emergence as the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer in its primary for the 2015 governorship election in the state, Ayade’s rival in the contest, Mr. Joe Agi, SAN,  faulted the governor’s election, alleging that he falsified his age and subsequently filed a lawsuit against him.

Agi, who emerged second in the governorship primary election of the PDP, held in December 2014, presented exhibits before the court indicating that Ayade had in three different affidavits that were deposed to on oath, provided conflicting dates of birth.

The protracted lawsuit, however, took a new dimension last week after the PDP’s lawyer, Mr. N. Ibegbulam, according to Vanguard’s newspaper report dated 26 September, 2016, distant the party from the governor’s ongoing legal battle, now before the Supreme Court.

But, the stakeholders, respectively, during a press briefing organized by the Boki Nation, held at the Ernest Etim Press Centre in Calabar, argued that the governor’s pedigree and popularity among the people would see him through.

According to the governor’s Special Adviser on administration, Hon. Mark Obi, the people cannot afford to abandon the governor, who enjoyed their collective mandate during the governorship primary and general elections, at his trying moment.

“The people gave his excellency, Prof Ben Ayade total support to run the affairs of the state and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for four years.

“I am not going to make any argument for the governor, but I am sure of his integrity. Our governor cannot be conquered.

“All he deserves now is our collective support. The matter is subjudice; we are not going to comment on that.

On her part, the PDP’s women leader in the state; Mrs. Vera Obi Bisong, said Prof Ben Ayade has come to stay as the Cross River state governor, for eight uninterrupted years.

She explained that the governor will not only complete his four year mandate in office, but also enjoy another four years as stipulated by the constitution.

Bisong argued that no amount of conspiracy against the governor would succeed; adding that the Boki Nation remains committed to the sustenance of his leadership.

According to her “Governor Ayade’s administration has come to stay for eight years. The governor is unstoppable.

Earlier, in his address, leader of the group and the state’s commissioner for Works, Engr. Dane Osim, said the Boki Nation gave the governor the highest number of votes during the last elections, and would do everything possible to secure his mandate.

“We are here to reiterate our support for the governor. We are committed to it, we are fearless about it; come rain, come shine”, he added.