PDP Youths demand intervention of traditional rulers, elders in flag bearer crisis

Youths under the auspices of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Cross River Northern Youths Forum have demanded the intervention of traditional rulers and elders in the crisis rocking the party.

The party has been torn apart following a contentious primary for the Cross River North Senatorial Bye-election where Jarigbe Agon Jarigbe and Stephen Odey are laying claim to the ticket following the bye election.

As a result of this and a matter pending court over who the authentic candidate of the party is, no name was listed by INEC for the party in the bye election scheduled for October 31.

This has thrown the district into disarray as it is feared that the ticket crisis will gift the opposition party the district on a platter of gold.

Worried by this development, PDP youths from the district convened a special meeting at the party headquarters in Calabar to examine the crisis with a view to resolving it.

Speaking after the meeting, Convener of the Forum Amb. Jerry Odey called on the aspirants to sheath their swords and also on the elders of the senatorial to wade into the crisis.

Odey read the resolution of the youths which was signed by five others representing the five local government areas that comprise the district.

He said youths in the region are displeased with the hopeless situation of elders in the region and called for

“The forum expressed deep displeasure, at the seemingly helpless posture of both the elders and leaders of the Northern Senatorial District on their aloofness on critical issues such as the one currently being addressed.

“Forum therefore, challenged and charged them to as a matter of urgency and deliberateness, initiate a process that will build the bonds of unity, close ranks, and encourage consensus building to forestall such bizarre future occurrences

“Forum is of the strong opinion, and charged the elders and leaders of the North, midwifed by the Party, to without delay initiate a robust reconciliation process between the aggrieved parties with the view to enthrone peace and ultimately guarantee the redemption of the soul of our great Party”, the youths demanded.

The forum also congratulated Dr Barr Stephen Adi Odey, who was affirmed as the party’s candidate by the NWC but charged him to extend his olive branch to other aspirants. The youths also called on one of the contestants Hon. Jarigbe Agon Jarigbe to withdraw his challenge against the party for the overall benefit of the people of the district.

The Cross River North Senatorial position was declared vacant following the sudden demise of Dr. Rose Oko who died early this year in Europe following an undisclosed ailment. She was a former member of the Cross River State Executive Council.