Police clamp down on PDP, barricade rally venue in Calabar

By JUDEX OKORO, Calabar

In what appeared as a subtle clamp down on opposition party in Cross River state, security operatives have barricaded the PDP rally venue in Calabar.

Investigations by our reporter revealed that as early as 7:00am a crack team of security personnel numbering about one hundred and comprising the army, civil defence and police stormed Calabar Sports Club, the venue of the campaign flag off, in twenty five Hiliux Vans and one Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC).

The leader of the team on arrival threatened hundreds of PDP faithful to vacate or face the wrath of the law, but they resisted the order to leave, stressing that they were given due approval by the police.

When our reporter went to the venue of the event about 12 noon, hundreds of PDP supporters were trooping into the place through the emergency gates while some were seen erecting banners and pasting posters of their various candidates for the by-election and the three expected governors.

The parry supporters were shouting leave-us-alone-to-hold-our-event. This is democracy.

Last week the State Working Committee of PDP constituted a campaign committee for Ogoja/Yala federal constituency and Akpabuyo State Assembly by-election scheduled for Saturday, February 26, 2022.

The campaign committee, made up of over 1, 000 members, and are officially to be inaugurated today, February 19, 2022, are to move to their various wards and polling units to embark on aggressive campaigns to sell their candidates, Chief Mike Usibe for Ogoja/Yala federal constituency and Dr Effiom Ekeng Edet for Akpabuyo State House of Assembly.

The governors expected at the kick off rally are Governors Nyesom Wike, Udom Emanuel and Samuel Orom of Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Benue States respectively just as Senators Gershom Bassey, Sandy Onor Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, Rt Hons Essien Ayi, Eta Mbora and Daniel Asuquo would also attend the event slated for Saturday, February 19, 2022.

Other party stalwarts that would be at the rally, tagged ‘operation-deliver-PDP’ include former governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke, zonal leaders, chapter and ward leaders. (Saturday Sun)