Just few days after launching the governorship campaign in Cross River State crisis have erupted in the camp of the faction of the People Democratic Party loyal to Gov. Nyesom Wike.
The crisis according to our source is between Sen. Jarigbe Agom the senatorial candidate of the party in the northern senatorial district and Sen. Sandy Onor the state governorship candidate of the party.
An impeccable source who spoke to our correspondent alluded the crisis to the disagreement between Sen. Jarigbe and Sen. Sandy Onor over support for the presidential candidate of the party Atiku Abubakar.
Already the party has been divided into two groups, the Atiku group led by former Gov. Liyel Imoke and the Wike group led by Sen. Sandy Onor.
The Wike group have been instructed not to campaign for Atiku while the Liyel group have taken up the responsibility of delivering Atiku in the state, if they will work for Wike governorship candidate is what we cannot say for now.
According to our source, crisis began when Sen. Jarigbe who is a member of the Wike group insisted that it is a wrong political strategy not to campaign for the party presidential candidate as it will have a backlash and affect his own senatorial elections since the elections are happening on the same date and at the same time. In his wisdom Sen. Jarigbe believes that if there is a discordant tune from PDP supporters on the election day it will give advantage to the ruling party in thr elections which wi affect his own chances. But Sen. Sandy will not hear of it, he insisted that they must adhere strictly to their leader (Wike) instruction of not campaigning for Atiku Abubakar. The disagreement got heated and Sen. Jarigbe was said to have walked out on his party governorship candidate.
Unconfirmed report suggest that in the midst of the disagreement a scuffle ensued between Sen. Jarigbe security details and Sen. Sandy associates that led to the killing of Sen. Sandy cousin. Another account says it was an accidental discharge from Sen. Sandy security details. The deceased name is given as Okey Mbeh Ita from Nsofang ward. He is said to have graduated many years ago and have been following Sen. Sandy in search of a job, he left behind a wife and two children.
According to our source leaders of the party in northern Cross River has this morning held an emergency meeting with the two leaders in a bid to settle the crisis and sustain the hope of the party at next months polls.
More information will be reported as things unfold.
