The Cross River chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the state government over what it described as a rush to conduct the local government council elections.

The party said the haste could force the state Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) to take decisions that would “change the goalpost for the conduct of the election” in favour of the ruling party.

In a statement, the chairman of the PDP in Cross River, Venatius Ikem, said instead of 90 days notice for election, the state electoral umpire gave 30 days.

“Most governors have, in order to beat the Supreme Court deadline of October for stoppage of federal monthly allocations to local governments that are not democratically elected, decided to organise council poll by fire by force.

“In our state, Governor Bassey Otu quickly decided to change the goalpost for the election. Instead of 90 days’ notice for the election, he decided that we must conduct the election within 30 days, now maybe 37 days. Why?

“The argument seems to be so that he does not miss out on the October allocation of funds to local governments in Cross River,” he stated.

Mr Ikem further said the Otu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration would account for the council funds he had received since May 2024.

He alleged that despite the huge resources accrued to the administration, there was nothing on the ground to show for it.

“The state received a total of N119 billion in 2023. Where has the money been put to use? From January 2024 to May 2024, the government received another N33.5 billion in allocation.

“Local governments received N5.7 billion in March and N5.6 billion in June; where is the money, and for what purpose has it been put to use?

“Several such astronomical sums totalling between the state and local governments in an average of N11 to N12 billion monthly without anything to show for it. We will not keep quiet,” he said.

Mr Ikem said if the governor did not thread the path of reason moving forward, the PDP would take steps to challenge all actions of the administration in various courts.

(NAN)