Ogoja/Yala By-election: 10 Aspirants Struggle, as APC stop sale of nomination form

The battle for Ogoja/Yala federal constituency by-election has continued to gather momentum as ten persons have indicated interest to occupy the vacant seat.

The seat became vacant following the swearing-in of Rt Hon Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe as the Senator representing the northern senatorial district after the death of Sen Rose Oko in 2020. Before then, Jarigbe was the House of Representatives member, representing the federal constituency.

INEC in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) had issued guidelines for the conduct of the 2022 by-elections across four (4) states of Imo, Ondo, Plateau and Cross River. The electionn is scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 26, 2022.

Since then, there has been a beehive of political activities in the state gollowing the release of the timetable as about ten persons have been criss-crossing Ogoja and Yala communitiesin the northern part of the state holding consultations with critical stakeholders in readiness for thebvariius parties primaries.

While APC has slated their primary for Tuesday, Februaey 1, PDP would hold theirs on Thursday, February 3.

Those in the race campaigning to clinch the PDP's ticket include Mike  Ede Usibe, former local government  chairman of Yala and former Commissioner for New Cities under Governor Ben Ayade's adminstration, Charles Offoboche, Barr Godion Offiono and Ogar Joseph Onah.

In the APC fold, Jude Ngaji, former Deputy Chief of Staff under Governor Liyel Imoke and former State Securoty Adviser to Governor Ben Ayade, Dr Julius Okputu, former commissioner for Works and Environment, Vice-Chairman State Planning Commission, Dr Stella Odey, commissioner local government Affairs and Mr John Ulafor, commissioner for grants, have all thrown their heart into the ring.

Investigation showed that all the aspirants are from Yala local government area as no Ogoja person is in the race for fair and equitable distribution of power between the two brotherly communities.

Sources close to the PDP secretariat revealed that all the aspirants have bought the expression of interest and nomination forms for the position  at the Abuja party secretariat and are preparing for the primary election.

The source hinted that the party leadership in the state have resolved to give everybody a level-playing field if all moves to arrive at a consensus fails.

Another party source revealed that the  stakeholders from the North are working tirelessly to see how a credible and an acceptable candidate would emerge considering that APC is in hot contention for the seat.

However, there are indications that APC in the state maybe heading for a concensus candidate as they did in the just-concluded party congress from ward to state levels.

An indication to this emerged following a statement from the party secretariat directing all aspirants not to buy forms yet pending the outcome of variius stakeholders meeting scheduled for Jnuary 20 and 21, 2022.

The statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary-elect, Mr Erasmus Ekpang, reads in part: "I have the directives of the State Chairman elect of the APC, Barr. Alphonsus Ogar Eba esq. to inform members of the Party aspiring for vacant offices in the Bye-election of 26th February, 2022 to await the meeting of the Party with their various Stakeholders slated for  20th and 21st January, 2022 purchase of forms.

"Please all intending Aspirants are to get their particulars including tax clearance ready ahead of time."

This directive seems to be sending shivers down the spine of some of the aspirants as they are worried  that they may be schemed out of the contest.
A party stakeholder from the North, Mr Agba Steve Agba, is uncomfortable with the statement from the party leadership, saying "the Governor must allow people to participate in the process of selecting who leads them. Anything to the contrary would give their opponents victory again at the poll.

The Party’s approved timetable/schedule of activities for the concurrent Legislative By-Elections was signed by the National Secretary, APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe.

*Schedule of activities*
***Notice of Election to the State Chapter – Tuesday 18th January, 2022
***Sale of Forms (APC National Secretariat) – Tuesday 18th January, 2022
***Last Day for Submission of Completed Forms and accompanying documents (APC National Secretariat) – Monday 24th January, 2022
***Screening of Aspirants – Wednesday 26th January, 2022
***Publication of claims and objections – Friday 28th January, 2022
***Screening Appeals – Sunday 30th January, 2022
***PRIMARY ELECTION – Tuesday 1st February, 2022
***Election Appeal – Thursday 3rd February, 2022
The expression of interest and nomination forms for the House of Representatives positions cost N3, 850, 000. For the State House of Assembly positions, the forms cost N850, 000. Female Aspirants and Physically Challenged Aspirants 50% of the prescribed fees for each positions.