By John Ighodaro

CALABAR — As politicians and the electorate prepare for the August 28, local government area elections in Cross River State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, state chairman, Ntufan Ekpo Okon, has called on the party’s candidates not to see their candidacy as a meal ticket but as a ticket for service.
He disclosed this while addressing party faithful at a ceremony  in Calabar. The party also gave its flag to seven of its chairmanship candidates in the forthcoming local government area election at the event.

The chairmanship flag bearers are Dr. Emil Inyang (Biase),  Ita Mbora (Calabar Municipality),  Ekang Henshaw (Calabar South), Mrs. Josephine Effion (Akpabuyo), Mr. Stephen Asuquoh (Odukpani) and Mr. Denis Nkin (Akamkpa).

According to him: “We have been enjoying the confidence of Cross River people. Fly that flag, try and win their support once again. When you win, you must be committed to the party and the ticket, not as a meal ticket but as a ticket for service.”

The party leadership will support you all through this process. We will stand by you.”
Ekpo Okon assured that the party was not intimidated by rival parties, saying: “For those who claim to be in opposition, we are happy.

If we don’t find challenges, we can’t find our true potential. You must campaign. You don’t wait until you have failed and then begin to find excuses. A student that refuses to read for an examination cannot expect to be successful in that examination, so you must campaign. Party members, please support them,” he added.

Also addressing party faithful,  the Deputy Governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham, said other parties were attacking them because “we have been bearing good fruits.

PDP possesses the most formidable political armada in the country. PDP stands for due process and what is right.”

He assured that international observers would be invited to monitor the elections and “we shall uphold every credible result that come from the field. A champion must train harder than the rest because everybody is aspiring to beat the champion.”