By: AMAWU, Cletus Albert Amawu.
The immediate past Commissioner for Finance, Cross River State, Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr. has just won the Cross River Southern Senatorial District Primary Election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the U.J. Esuene International Stadium, Venue of the election.
SUKI, as his popularly called, scored a total of 347 votes of the 351 Accredited and voted with 4, void votes.
His only Co-contestant, Hon Victor Effiom, had earlier withdrawn from the race at the Venue, in a letter that was read, as he declared his support for Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr. come 2023 General Elections.
Ekpenyong, who was the favourable candidate for the Governorship amongst the youths and majority seeking a departure from the past step down for the consensus and anointed Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, against the wish of his teaming followers that cut across party divide in the State.
Cross River Southern Senatorial District is comprised of seven (7) local government councils, namely, Akpabuyo, Bakassi, Calabar Municipality, Calabar South, Odukpani, Akamkpa and Biase.
In his acceptance speech, he said, “I want to thank all of you, who come out to vote me. I want to accept this victory and dedicate to the Alpha and Omega for He’s the One that directs our part. It is for every young man, woman and even the elderly who believed in our course for a new dawn. This may not have been what we started but to God alone be the glory.
“And let me thank also, INEC, Security Agencies for the peaceful process; it can only get better.
“I promised enhanced representation, working for the people, develop laws that will be in the best interest of not only Cross River Southern Senatorial District but for Nigerians. The issues are quite complex and it will take a lot of dedication with the laws that will regulate public space and the country.
“We need better laws and must apply enforcement. I’m going to the Senate for every Cross Riverian and most especially the South that holds the capital of the State, from the Hills of Obanliku to rainforest of Bakassi to bring home dividends of democracy.
“I equally want to thank other aspirants who stepped down for me, because I’m actually going to represent them as well. Hence, it is a victory for all of us. There’s no I in team but the collective that is greater than; so for us, I’m going to be asking them for their inputs as well to better our people and especially that, this is just the first and litmus steep before the General Elections; they’re all my brothers and I know them deeply and they’ll be part of every steps in the four years,” he concluded.
