Bassey Otu, a former lawmaker, who represented Cross River South in the National Assembly, has emerged as the governorship flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress though earlier disqualified in May for being an ex-convict and dodgy educational qualifications.

The party’s governorship primary election, held at the U.J Esuene Stadium in Calabar, Mr Otu emerged as the winner with 811 votes to defeat his opponents, John Owan-Enoh who had 84 votes and Chris Agara, 63 votes.

The APC had disqualified ex-felon Otu from the Cross River governorship race over his conviction in 1987 and discrepancies in educational qualifications.

The exercise, which began after accreditation of voters on Thursday, ended at the early hours of Friday, with the result announced by the chairman of the party’s primary election committee, Mohammed Kolo.

Other aspirants had earlier withdrawn from the contest. APC chairman in Cross River, Alphonsus Eba, congratulated Mr Otu on his victory which he described as a “landslide.”

“Senator Bassey Ede Otu was disqualified by the Screening Committee (Governorship). We also received a petition dated 14th May, 2022 from Messrs B.I Dakum & Co. against the nomination of Senator Bassey Otu,” according to the APC.

The petition disqualifying Mr Otu, signed by APC committee chairman, Suleiman D. Fakai, and secretary, Chidi Nwogu, which was seen by Peoples Gazette, had cited the senator’s 1987 conviction over fraud charges and inconsistency in his educational background.

“The Committee, after due scrutiny of the content of the Petition and the supporting documents, found no evidence to substantiate the allegation of conviction of the aspirant before any court of law,” stated the document. “However, with regards to the allegation of his questionable academic credentials, subjects could neither produce his First School Leaving Certificate nor his WASC.”

“He could only produce his secondary school testimonial. In the circumstances therefore, the Committee has no option than to declare this matter as inconclusive,” the document added.

Prior to his disqualification, Mr Otu was the anointed candidate of incumbent governor Ben Ayade. With his support, the senator emerged as the consensus governorship candidate for the APC in the state.

Governor Dapo Abiodun faced a similar petition against his re-election bid but remains on course to contest in the 2023 governorship election despite his past criminal records of forgery and credit card theft in the U.S. 

(NAN)