The Cross River State PDP National Assembly screening panel was held on the 23rd and 24th of September, 2018, in Calabar, Cross River State.
During this period, the panel received petitions against 4 (four) Senate aspirants and 17 (seventeen) House of Representatives aspirants.
The petitions bordered mainly on serving political appointees (clarification of status), tax clearance issues and one case of alleged forgery.
The panel in line with the guidelines of the party and its terms of reference, swung into action by writing to the PDP State Party Chairman, Ntufam Inok Edim, informing him of the petitions and requested that aspirants who had petitions against them be informed and make themselves available to the panel with all supporting documents.
To get further clarification, the panel, on September 23, 2018, wrote to the SSG, Cross River State, requesting clarification of the status of political appointees. In a letter replied by the SSG to the panel, dated September 24, 2018, the SSG stated the following :
1) That Agara Christopher Agam was not a political appointee.
2) That Hon. Mike Etaba is a serving National Assembly and does not resignation or the Governor's approval.
3) That the SSG, Tina Agbor, purchased, completed and submitted the nomination form but dropped the ambition because the Governor did not approve of her resignation.
4) That the other aspirants vying for the Senate and House of Representatives are all appointees of the State Government. She stated further that no record in her office shows that the Governor approved of their resignation.
Furthermore, the appeal panel received a petition from one Hon. Gabriel Idagu-Ugor, accusing one of the aspirants, Hon. Patrick Akpak Ugage, of forging his signature on his nomination form. The appeal panel, through the PDP State Party Chairman, invited Hon. Patrick Akpak Ugage but he refused to show up. On that note, the panel took a decision, withdrawing the clearance certificate earlier issued to Patrick Ugage, to contest for the House of Representatives seat for Ogoja/Yala Federal constituency.
Ntufam Ekpo Okon and George Ekpungu, were the only two aspirants who met the panel, provided copies of their resignation letters but could not provide any letter of acceptance of resignation and release from the Cross River State Government. Their inability to provide the acceptance of resignation and release from Cross River State Government confirms the last paragraph of the SSG's reply to the panel.
Moreover, Arikpo Dodeye Ikpi and Christopher Agam Agara, were accused of failure to present tax receipts and certificates as required by the party guidelines.
Others been petitioned apart from the few mentioned above did not show up. They are still in the Cross River State Government pay roll. On this ground, the panel found that these petitions have merit, hence, clearance certificates issued to the four Senate aspirants and seventeen House of Representatives aspirants with issues were withdrawn and the aspirants stopped from further participation in the primaries.
Aspirants disqualified from participation in the Senate primaries are:
Ntufam Ekpo Okon
Christopher Agam Agara
Arikpo Dodeye Ikpi
Hon. Godwin Ettah
Aspirants disqualified from the House of Representatives primaries are:
Edward Eta Ogon
George A. Ekpungu
Dane Osim-Asu
Tina Agbor
Prof. Walter Mboto
Emil Inyang
Patrick Ugage
K. J. Jedy-Agba
Enamhe Dorn Cklaimze
Amanke Gowin
John Etim-Bassey
Asuquo Ekpo Ada
Oqua Edet Oqua
Saviour Nyong
Austine Ibok
Edem Okokon Effiom
All candidates listed above are not cleared by the screening committee.
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