Traditional rulers in Calabar Municipality were on Wednesday shut out of their secretariat in the Calabar Municipal Local Government Area.

This was as they gathered to meet the opposition Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Sandy Onor, Wednesday afternoon.

The Paramount ruler of the Municipality, HRM Eta Eteta, who addressed reporters in front of the secretariat, said no reason was given for the lock up.

The traditional head of Calabar Municipality said the clan heads of the council area were to meet with the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when they discovered that their place of meetings was looked up.

According to him, “We had received a notice from the PDP governorship candidate that he will meet with us by 2 p.m. in our Secretariat which is usually where we hold all our functions and activities.

“As you can see yourself, the Secretariat is locked up and the Chairman didn’t tell us why and you can see soldiers everywhere also.”

Meanwhile, a competent source in the council said the authorities gave an instruction that the secretariat should be locked up.

“They also gave a directive that no meeting of whatever kind should take place in the Secretariat.

“I am working based on directive,” the source stated.

Asked if there was any issue with the secretariat, he said, “There is no issue here, the traditional rulers met here this month of January.”

The PDP governorship candidate has been campaigning round the 18 local government areas of the state.

He was to conclude a tour of the council areas with campaigns in Calabar South and Calabar Municipality on Wednesday.

In his campaign to the council areas, he meets with the traditional rulers of each council, holds stakeholders meetings before the rally in the area.

(NAN)