By Ani Bassey Calabar
Different Stakeholders in Cross River State have called on the Senate president, Ahmed Lawan to immediately Inaugurate Hon. Jarigbe Agom as senator representing C’River North.

The Stakeholders say they are shocked that over six months after the elections, the  and the recent judgement of the Supreme Court, the people of Cross River North are still being denied authentic representation.

They are rights activist Omang C. Omang, Emmanuel Agba and Raymond Takom, the Coordinators of Northern Senatorial District Youth Renaissance Assembly, SSDYRA, and Movement for the Restoration of Cross River PDP, (MFTROCR).

They insist that the continued stay of Stephen Odey who was sacked by the recent Supreme Court Judgment in Suit No. SC.9/2021 is illegal.

Omang, an activist argued that INEC has obeyed the judgment of courts by issuing a Certificate of Return, CoR, to Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe (MHR), which automatically invalidates the CoR earlier issued to Stephen Odey, after the by- election.

He said  fact that the Supreme Court had ruled on who was the authentic candidate of PDP, is incontrovertible and that candidate remains Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe as affirmed by the Supreme Court, which struck out the Appeal filed by Stephen Odey, challenging the decision of the Appeal Court.

He faulted the position of the senate and stressed that he is supposed to act in line with advise from the clerk of the national assembly.

“The Clerk of the Senate is supposed to verify the Certificate of Return issued by INEC and document the elected Senator, in line with the Certificate of Return (Latest in time) for swearing in.

“The Senate President’s duty is to act in line with the advice of the Clerk of the National Assembly, based on the Legal brief and advice of the legal department.

“It is worthy of note that, with the evidence before us, the legal department and the Clerk of the National Assembly have advised the Senate President to swear in Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, in obedience to Court judgment, INEC compliance and issuance of Certificate of Return to Jarigbe and in total compliance with the rule of law.”

He cited the case between Hon. (Mrs) Dorathy Mato V. Hon Iorwase Herman Hembe (2017) as a locus classicus with regard to who the authentic candidate of a party is.

He explained that “Hembe was declared winner by INEC but the Supreme Court gave the Victory to Dorathy Mato, who took over the seat at House of Reps in 2015.  Both Hon. Herman Hembe and Hon. Dorathy Mato were members of the APC and the suit was a pre-election matter.

“It is the party that contest elections and not the candidate. Rt Hon Jarigbe Agom was declared winner of the PDP Primary election, monitored by INEC in line with section 85, 86 and 87 of the electoral act”, he said.

Also speaking, Emmanuel Agba, Coordinator of Northern Senatorial District Youth Renaissance Assembly, said it is high time National Assembly leadership waded into this constitutional crisis rocking the Red Chamber.

He wondered why the Senate President should sit on a judgment of Supreme Court with regard to Jarigbe versus Odey which went in favour of the former.

“Never in the history of politics has the party had this kind of squabbles that cannot be settled. This is democracy, which preaches rule of law and not rule or wishes of individual as we witness.

“I urge both Ayade and NASS members to concede for the interest of the party. This is the first time an Ogoja man is emerging victorious at senatorial election after over 50 years of marginalisation and our brothers are still fighting us.”

Hon. Jarigbe Faults INEC On C’River Senatorial Bye Election

Expressing dismay at the turn of events, Coordinator of Movement for the Restoration of Cross River PDP, (MFTROCR), Comrade Raymond Takom, said if care is not taken PDP may lose out to APC that is gradually mobilising and re-strategising.

“This is the first time in the history of Cross River politics that PDP would be would be so divided that it is fighting itself. It is high time PDP national leadership rose to the occasion and stand by Supreme Court that has stamped and sealed Jarigbe’s victory. We commend the Apex court.”