The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, state working committee, members in Cross River led by its chairman, Barrister Venatius Ikem shunned their party’s presidential campaign rally held at the U,J, Esuene stadium in Calabar.
Also absent at the presidential rally were the PDP governorship candidate, Prof Sandy Onor and his deputy, Emana Duke.
The crack in PDP is traceable to the position of the G5 governors camp on Atiku’s ambition, as the party’s governorship candidate in the state Sen Sandy Onor is known to be a strong loyalist of Governor Nyesom Wike who is leading the PDP splinter group.
Last year , the state working committee of PDP took delivery of 25 campaign busses courtesy of Gov Nyesom Wike,while in turn the leader of Atiku”s campaign structure in the state, Sen Liyel Imoke also received three campaign busses from Atiku’s deputy Gov Ifeanyi Okowa
The unfolding drama led to the party’s flag not being presented by the presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to the gubernatorial candidate of the party in keeping with the usual ritual of events marking presidential rallies.
Atiku Abubakar in company of the former governor of the state Sen Liyel Imoke , national chairman Sen Iyorchia Ayu stormed the venue of the rally looking unperturbed, it was glaring that all is not well within the PDP in the state as evidenced by the turn out of party supporters,
Addressing party faithfuls at the rally , Atiku promised to endure the Calabar ports comes alive if elected president, as such a move would not only open up economic activities within the eastern flank of the country, but would also spur interest from investors along the NorthEast region.
He pleaded with the people to continue to demonstrate unshaken faith in the party as they have always done.
