By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
A Peoples Democratic Party, PDP aspirant for the party’s ticket to represent Ikom/Boki federal constituency at the lower chamber of the National Assembly, Hon. Pius Abang Beesong, has emerged the party’s flagbearer in the 2023 elections.
Abang’s emergence as the winner of the court-ordered re-run primary election has qualified him to slug it out with candidates of other parties for the Ikom/Boki federal constituency slot.
The results of the re-run election, which held at as announced by the Returning Officer, Ike Ogbogu, showed that who declared the re-run primary election result to the aspirants and thier supporters on Wednesday at Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State, stated that Abang polled 37 votes to beat his political opponent, Mr. Attah Ochinke, who is currently the chairman of the Cross River State branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Attah Ochinke, who garnered 30 votes.
Ogbogu advised the contestants to take the result of the re-run election in good fate and if possible, work very hard towards any other subsequent election which they may intend to run.
In his post-election speech made on a telephone interview with our reporter shortly after being declared winner of the re-run, Abang assured the people of his willingness to work very hard so that he can also defeat other candidates eyeing the set in the forthcoming general elections, which comes up in 2023.
Abang said, “I shall carry out my campaign with dignity. My greatest appeal is that all stalwart of the PDP should come and join forces with our team to make the PDP candidate beat his opponents warning up ahead of next year’s House of Representatives’ election.
He promised to give quality representation to the constituents if the federal constituency, with a view to make life more meaningful for them.
He added, “My appel to all party faithful is for all of us to join force with our team to win in the final House of Representatives’ election. Let’s work hard and ensure that our party give the people representation that will become the talk of the town.”
In his reaction to the outcome of the re-run primary election, in a telephone chat with our correspondent, Barr. Ochinke said, “What you see or heard is result of the election. I have nothing to say more than this.”
The PDP had early in 2022 conducted its party primaries to pick its candidate for the House of Representatives election, which may end up being a two-horse race between the PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC, where Ochinke was declared winner, against the business man-turned politician Abang.
Unhappy with the way and manner in which the primary was conducted, Abang instituted a case at the Federal High Court, where the presiding judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, declared the result of the primary null and void, saying that sections of the Electoral Act were violated and subsequently ordered a re-run primary to be conducted by the PDP to pick a new candidate, who would fly its banner.
