By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar
Controversy has continued to trail the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary for Cross River Central Senatorial District as aspirants, Sen. Eteng Jones Williams and Ms Mary Ekpere, rejected the outcome of the exercise, insisting that no valid primary election was conducted across the 66 wards of the district.
The aspirants separately urged party supporters and stakeholders to disregard results circulating on social media claiming that a winner had emerged, describing the figures as fabricated and capable of deepening divisions within the party.
Williams alleged that no voting took place anywhere in the district, maintaining that his supporters monitored activities across the 66 wards without sighting electoral officials or voting materials.
According to the senator, party officials expected to conduct the exercise never arrived at several locations, despite aspirants and supporters waiting until late in the evening.
He further claimed that his community, which he said has over 1,000 registered APC members, was unable to vote because officials failed to show up.
“I do not understand the desperation behind this process. Elections are meant to test popularity in the field, not through backdoor arrangements,” he said.
Williams also alleged that materials meant for the primary election were diverted and allegedly handed to some state government officials, who, according to him, collated and announced results from an undisclosed location.
Questioning the authenticity of the figures being circulated, the senator argued that the results did not reflect the political realities in areas where he claimed to enjoy overwhelming support.
“As an aspirant, nobody contacted me to provide agents for the exercise, yet results suddenly appeared. That raises serious questions about the credibility of the process,” he added.
He called on the APC leadership to intervene and ensure justice, insisting that due process must prevail in the interest of the party’s unity and credibility.
Also reacting, Ms Mary Ekpere said she neither saw electoral materials nor participated in any voting process, despite being an aspirant in the contest.
She appealed to the party leadership and Governor Bassey Otu to ensure fairness and equal treatment for all aspirants.
“We are all members of the same party and children of Governor Bassey Otu. All we ask for is fairness, justice and equity. Let everybody go to the field and test their popularity, and whoever wins, we will support,” she said.