From Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Cross River State, Julius Udayi, has reiterated that he remains the only recognised and authentic governorship candidate of the party in the state.
Udayi made the declaration during a press conference held in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, on Friday.
He said his nomination was made under the leadership of Tanimu Turaki, which he described as the legitimate leadership of the PDP, following the Court of Appeal’s decision recognising the faction led by Turaki.
“On this recent development, we decided once again to set the narrative straight and firmly state that it was under the Turaki-led leadership, which the Court of Appeal has adjudged to be the legitimate faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, that Mr Julius Udayi was nominated and presented as the bona fide governorship candidate of the PDP in Cross River State, alongside all other candidates of his team,” he said.
Udayi also criticised the activities of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and alleged that some individuals allegedly aligned with him were attempting to create division within the PDP in Cross River State.
“It is sad to say that the unwholesome activities of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, whose stooges, headed by Senator/Professor Sandy Onoh, are hell-bent on disrupting the peace and tranquillity prevalent in the state by parading themselves as products of the Peoples Democratic Party from the ‘Wike faction,’” he alleged.
He further alleged that the activities of the group could threaten the peace and stability of the state.
Udayi called on members of the PDP in Cross River State to remain calm and support his candidacy, while urging security agencies to investigate what he described as parallel political activities by members of the faction allegedly led by Senator Sandy Onoh.
“As law-abiding citizens, beyond setting the records straight, we wish to use this medium to call on all security agencies in the state, particularly the Chief Security Officer of the state, to beam their searchlight on these recurring parallel political activities,” he said.
According to Udayi, such activities could create conditions capable of triggering violence or causing a breach of the peace if not proactively addressed.
He also warned individuals opposing the Turaki-led leadership of the PDP against what he described as political experimentation in Cross River State.
“We will like to warn that anyone who is against the Turaki leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party is on his own, or such person or group of persons is being used as guinea pigs for presidential experimentation in Cross River State,” he said.
Udayi alleged that some members of the opposing faction were acting in the interest of individuals rather than that of Cross River State.
He urged party members and residents of the state to prioritise peace and stability ahead of the political activities.