The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the appointment of card-carrying All Progressives Congress (APC) members into the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) by Governor Bassey Otu.
The party made this known through a statement signed by Prince Mike Ojisi, State Publicity Secretary, on Saturday and made available to CONVERSEER.
The statement, which described the appointment by Governor Otu as a blatant attempt to compromise the upcoming local government council, said, “The PDP views this development as a deliberate strategy by the ruling All Progressives Congress to manipulate the electoral process and entrench its dominance at the grassroots.”
It added that, “One of the contentious aspects of these appointments involves Mrs Eutendala Eno, a staunch APC member from Yakurr Local Government Area, who was initially nominated for commissioner, but faced significant setback following a petition submitted to the Cross River State House of Assembly (CRSHA) and was roundly rejected. Her deep-rooted ties to the APC make her unfit to serve in a body that is supposed to be neutral and impartial.
“Another appointment that has drawn our attention is that of Dr Eyo Otu Eyo, a card-carrying APC member from Odukpani Local Government Area. He was a former aspirant for the Odukpani State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly (CRSHA) during the last electoral cycle. His deep roots in the APC and his recent political ambitions render his nomination partisan.
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“The PDP’s leadership rejects these appointments and attempts to subvert the democratic process by placing loyalists in key electoral positions in its entirety and call on Governor Otu to reconsider these appointments and instead opt for individuals who are not affiliated with any political party.
“The independence of CROSIEC is non-negotiable, and any attempt to undermine it will be met with stiff resistance.
“We would explore all legal avenues to ensure that the upcoming local government elections are conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner.
“We call on other political parties, civil society organisations, and the general public to join in the efforts to preserve the sanctity of the electoral process.”