PDP Reps’ Candidate Accuses Cross River Govt Of Intimidation

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency, Mr Pius Abang Besong, has accused the Cross River State government of orchestrating a campaign of intimidation against his 2027 aspiration to represent the constituency in the House of Representatives.

Besong, who spoke in Calabar, alleged that the state political establishment was weaponising state institutions and political appointees to harass, discredit and stifle opposition voices in Boki local government area.

He said the recent outburst by an aide to the APC chairman in Boki, Engr. Kelvin Njong, who is also a member of the State Forestry Commission Board, was part of a calculated attempt to intimidate him and heat up the polity.

“I have no hand in the communal crisis that affected Iso-Bendeghe and its neighbours, and it is mischievous to link me to it,” Besong said.

“This is a clear attempt to intimidate my aspiration and diminish the goodwill I enjoy among our people. Our people deserve development, not division and intimidation.”

The PDP candidate alleged that the state government was using public officials to instigate communal tension in recovering communities such as Iso-Bendeghe, Nsadop, Katabang and Njua, to distract from governance failures in the area.

He called on the Ochibe Boki, the Traditional Rulers Council, security agencies and the state government to restrain persons whose utterances and actions could undermine peace in Boki.

Besong further accused the government of neglecting Boki in its development agenda, citing what he described as ill-timed flag-off of road projects and housing schemes in Central and Northern districts at the height of the rainy season.

He said true popularity in Central Senatorial District would be measured by prompt remittance of statutory allocations to local councils rather than political intimidation.

“If government truly wants to make a good outing in Central, it should remit all statutory allocations due to the six local government councils.

Some councils receive over N400 million monthly. That money can transform primary healthcare, schools and agriculture,” he said.

“You cannot intimidate an aspiration that is rooted in the people. Allow peace to reign and allow the people to freely choose.” The reps candidate maintained.

But in the swift reaction to the accusations, the state Publicity Secretary of APC Cross River State Chapter Mr. Emmanuel Inyang (JP) during a telephone call, dismissed the allegation saying that the PDP reps candidate is jittery because the party PDP ” is not on ground.

“We will sweep them out of the contest , they are just afraid of failure. With our broom , we will sweep them out. Can the candidate withstand our own candidate who is fully in charge of the constituency? The answer is No! ” Inyang maintained.