Senator Sandy Onor, a senator representing Cross River Central senatorial district, on Thursday picked the gubernatorial ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 general election.

Mr Onor defeated his compatriot, Senator Gershom Bassey, who represents the Southern Senatorial District in the ninth assembly with total votes of 236 to 175 votes and Rep. Daniel Asuquo, who scored 147 votes.

Declaring the result, Babajide Coker, Chairman, PDP Cross River gubernatorial primary election who declared Ms Onor winner said 591 voters were accredited out of 594 and 591 votes were cast.

Mr Coker added that 571 votes were valid while 20 votes were void.

“By the powers conferred on me as chairman of the electoral committee for the gubernatorial convention in Cross River, I hereby declare Sen. Sandy Onor, the winner of the election.

“Having pulled the highest number of votes, he is hereby returned and elected,” he said.

Speaking on the victory, Mr Onor said God was about to do something new in Cross River, adding that he would offer the state a leadership that is different.

“We will take the state to where it used to be, where people came and saw a clean and green environment,” he said.

Other contestants were Arthur Archibong with six votes, Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo, four votes, Imah Adegoke, one vote and Philia Henshaw, 2 votes.

A few hours before the election, one of the aspirants, Effiok Cobham, former Deputy Governor of Cross River withdrew from the race.

(NAN)