Cross River state APC contenders disagree over authentic standard-bearer despite court ruling

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate in Cross River State, John Owan Enoh, has implored party faithful to eschew bitterness and embrace peace in the interest of the party.

Enoh, who made the call yesterday in a press release to newsmen in Calabar, also extended an olive branch to his rival, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Usani, who is insisting on being the authentic governorship candidate.

But, Enoh invited Usani to join hands with him to free the state from the stranglehold of oppression, bigotry, poverty, hunger, corruption and underdevelopment.

He said the call followed the January 7, 2019 declaration by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Apo, Abuja, presided over by Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, which rejected Usani’s claim to being the candidate.

He said the judgment on Usani vs APC, INEC & Owan-Enoh, upheld him as the standard bearer in Cross River State.

He said he is a strong believer in the Fabian political philosophy, whose underlying assumption advances the principles of democratic socialism, via gradualist and reformist effort in democracies.

He urged Pastor Usani and his supporters to “sheathe the sword and embrace peace in the overall interest of our party and our state,’ adding ‘Responsible politics all over the world is premised on compromise or give-and-take, without which development would be seen in the dividing line between savagery and barbarism. Losers should accept their defeat with equanimity and winners share their victory with magnanimity.”

But, The Director General of Usani Campaign Organisation, Pastor Ene Cobham dismissed claims that the judgment of December 13, 2018 presided over by Justice O. A. Musa has been set aside by another High Court in Abuja.

In a statement to newsmen in Calabar, he described it as totally untrue and laughable.

Cobham said only an appeal court has the power to set aside the judgment, adding that to the best of his knowledge, it was only on January 8, 2019 that a notice of appeal was given on that judgment.

“As we speak, my principal, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani remains the authentic governorship candidate of the APC in Cross River State, despite the flag given in error to Senator Enoh.”