Crack in Wike’s camp as guber candidate, others split on Atiku’s Calabar rally

Crack has occurred in Governor Nyesom Wike’s camp in Cross River as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Sandy Onor, shunned the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar’s rally in Calabar, while the state Chairman, Venatius Ikem, Cross River South senatorial candidate, Ntufam Ekpo Okon, and others attended.

Hitherto, Onor, Ikem, Okon, former governor of the state, Mr Donald Duke, House of Representatives member for Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Constituency, Ntufam Eta Mbora, former Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Efiok Cobham and others were in the same camp with Wike and never identified with the Atiku camp in the state, led by former Governor Liyel Imoke and the senator representing Cross River South Senatorial, Gershom Bassey.

The party secretariat on Mary Slessor Avenue does not have Atiku’s posters.

But at the Atiku presidential rally, yesterday, at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Ntufam Okon, Mbora, Ikem were present while Onor, former Governor, Duke, former Deputy Governor, Cobham, and a few others were absent.

But speaking at the rally, Atiku thanked the people of Cross River for their continuous support for PDP and urged them to vote for PDP both in the state and presidency, promising to expand and make the Calabar port functional.

The presidential candidate assured the people that restructuring the country would be a major policy in his government when voted in as the president, saying: “One thing you must understand, the moment Calabar Port is expanded, it will attract factories and businesses and will be of benefits to the people of Cross River.”

Atiku added: “I promise you, if you vote for PDP for the President and governorship, we will work together with your governor and legislators.”

Imoke assured the presidential candidate of the state’s PDP’s vote.

He said: “Cross River is PDP, we know you are our friends. In spite of all the seeming challenges, we remain in PDP. I assure you that on February 25, our people who are here in their numbers will vote for PDP.”

Similarly, Bassey said: “We have never lost a governorship election in Cross River State and 2023 will not be different. We are solidly behind you and we will support you and your government when you come into power, come May 29, 2023.”