Drama in Cross River as Police seal PDP venue for rally

Drama in Calabar, the Cross River State capital as heavily armed operatives sealed off the Calabar Sport Club venue of PDP flag off campaign rally in the state.

The cordon by the police have upstaged the inauguration of the PDP campaign committee, who are made up of over 1, 000 members, that are supposed to be deployed to their various wards and polling units to embark on aggressive campaigns to sell their candidates – Chief Mike Usibe for Ogoja/Yala federal constituency and Dr Effiom Ekeng Edet for Akpabuyo State House of Assembly.

Expected dignitaries at the rally are Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Governor Udom Emanuel of Akwa-Ibom and Samuel Ortom of Benue State. While Senators Gershom Bassey, Sen. Sandy Onor, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, Rt Hons Essien Ayi, Eta Mbora and Daniel Asuquo were also expected to grace the event.

Other party stalwarts that would be at the rally, tagged ‘operation-deliver-PDP’ include former governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke, zonal leaders, chapter and ward leaders.

It was gathered that as early as 7:00am, a team of security operatives numbering about one hundred and comprising of the army, civil defence and policemen stormed Calabar Sports Club, in 25 Hilux vans and one Armoured Personnel Carrier

The leader of the team on arrival threatened hundreds of PDP faithful to vacate the premises or face the wrath of the law, but they resisted the order to leave, stressing that they were given due approval by the police authority in the state.

Despite the order, hundreds of PDP supporters were still trooping into the place through the emergency gates, while some were seen erecting banners and pasting posters of their various candidates for the by-election and the three expected governors.

The party’s supporters were shouting “leave us alone to hold our event. This is democracy”.

But some of the security operatives who spoke under condition of anonymity, condemned the clampdown, describing it as capable of causing political tension in the state.

In a telephone interview, the Cross River State Police Commissioner, Aminu Alhassan, confirmed that he deployed his men to cardon off the venue of PDP rally, saying it is because of security report.

He said: “I sent the security to avoid breakdown of law and order in the state. Two big parties cannot hold events the same day, so that they wont cause problem”.

“So, I had to stop the PDP own and allow APC own. PDP can hold their own tomorrow please.”

When asked which of the parties first applied for approval to hold event today, the police boss said “both applied and he gave them all approval but that the APC Youth Summit has been having their activities and today is the main day”.