APC confirms winners in Cross River NASS, State Assembly Primaries

From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar

The All Progressives Congress has confirmed winners in the primaries to select candidates for the National Assembly and State Assembly elections.

This follows the official results presented by the Chairman of the Cross River State APC Panel, Samuel Yanap, at the party secretariat in Cross River State.

For the Central Senatorial District, he disclosed that Oden Ewa won the ticket with 24,483 votes, followed by Senator Eteng Williams with 2,080 votes, while Mary Ekpere came third with 1,164 vots.

Yarnap explained that, contrary to reports, Oden Ewa was not disqualified from the primaries as he received confirmation from the APC national chairman and the organizing secretary regarding his eligibility.

For the House of Representatives, four new aspirants secured the party’s tickets, according to results made available by the returning officer.

Yanap disclosed that for Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency, Nta Eke ousted incumbent Bassey Akiba with 8,707 votes.

Akiba, who was initially elected on the platform of the Labour Party, defected to the ruling APC before failing to secure the APC ticket.

For Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, Stella Odey defeated incumbent Godwin Offiono with 10,708 votes.

In Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency, Okpor Ngim defeated incumbent Emil Inyang with 9,351 votes, while Blessing Egbara defeated incumbent Mike Etaba with 7,609 votes to secure the Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency ticket.

Another new entrant to secure a House of Representatives ticket is former Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, John Gaul Lebo, who polled 11,466 votes to win the Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency ticket.

Incumbent lawmaker for the constituency, Alex Egbona, defected from the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party, where he secured the PDP ticket to contest the elections.

Serving lawmakers who successfully secured their return tickets to the National Assembly include Senator representing Cross River North Senatorial District, Jarigbe Agom, who polled 31,404 votes, while his counterpart in the Southern District, Asuquo Ekpenyong, emerged unopposed with 42,943 votes.

Member representing Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency, Victor Abang, secured his return ticket with 10,850 votes, while Peter Akpanke of Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku earned his ticket with 14,252 votes.

Joseph Bassey, member representing Calabar South/Bakassi/Akpabuyo Federal Constituency, also secured his return ticket with 10,007 votes.

Yanap also announced winners for the 25 House of Assembly seats in the state, with principal members of the Assembly securing their return tickets, including Speaker Elvert Ayambem and Deputy Speaker Sylvester Agabi.