The Cross River Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mr Eyo Ekpo, has pledged not to contest the result of the gubernatorial poll in the state at the election tribunal.
Ekpo, who described the March 9 governorship election in Cross River as an auction, said he would rather pray that Gov. Ben Ayade’s second tenure would be better for the people of the state.
In a statement issued in Calabar on Tuesday, the SDP candidate Ekpo, described the governorship poll in the state as a bidding war and an auction in which funds were deployed for inordinate political ambition.
He said that any unbiased follower of his campaign would testify that residents of Cross River bought into his “Recover and Restore Programme” but the popular will was intimidated and subverted.
“Sadly, the popular will was intimidated, subverted and cast aside by vote buying, multiple thumb printing, violence and malpractices.
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“This was compounded by some SDP officers in the state who became traitors before and during the election, selling us out for a paltry mess of pottage.
“Nevertheless, I will not provide cannon fodder for lawyers and rumour mongers by going to an election tribunal.
“Instead, I will look to the future and join to pray that Gov. Ben Ayade’s second tenure will be much better than the first,” he said.
According to Ekpo, his manifesto and execution plan in a document titled: “Getting the Job Done,” was on the internet and the governor could look at it if indeed he is focused on serving the people.
He, however, thanked his campaign team and supporters, saying God had blessed Cross River with human and material resources.
He prayed for leadership with love and capacity to harness the resources of the state for the benefit of the people.
Ekpo noted that on the eve of the March 9 governorship election, some party officers of the SDP in the state allegedly endorsed the incumbent governor sparking off a division in the party in the state (NAN).
