By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The Cross River State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has asked the Cross River State Police Command to be cautious in the discharge of its duty so as not to compromise the March 18 governorship and House of Assembly polls.
The state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mike Ojisi, gave the advise while reacting to a trending a wireless message from the police in the state.
The police message, addressed to CSP Babayola Musa, the Commander, Rapid Response Squad, RRS, urged police squad to mobilize it’s men to the Northern part of Cross River and “engage in domination patrols, aggressive raids where necessary, and when circumstances warrant.”
Reacting to the memo, the PDP spokesperson stated that the directive is the height of the desperation by the governor, who is ready to go to any length to get one of his cronies installed as next state governor.
Ojisi said, “The Police signal directing DPOs to send all their men to Cross River North for the governorship and House of Assembly elections and to take over patrols, stop-and-search, as well as engage in aggressive raids is the height of desperation by Governir Ben Ayade to install a successor by all means.
“We state that we would not in anyway be cowed or intimidated by the Ayade-led Rapid Response Squad, RSS, which he has armed to the teeth, all in a bid to win elections in the North.
“This squad is illegal and has become notorious for election rigging, intimidation and harassment of voters in Cross River North, as we experienced during the PDP senatorial primary held in Ogoja in October 4, 2020, and the Yala/Ogoja federal constituency by-election held on February 27, 2023.
“We, therefore, call on the Commissioner of Police in charge of elections in the state, Garba Aliyu, and the IGP to dismantle this nefarious Squad that is out to compromise the Saturday elections in the North.”
