A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, has accused Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Prof. Sandy Onor of allegedly working to disrupt the peace and tranquillity in Cross River State.
The faction, which has Julius Udayi as its governorship candidate, also called on Governor Bassey Otu and the Department of State Services, DSS, to investigate what it described as the activities of the Onor-led faction of the party in the state.
The group made the allegations at a news conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Press Centre in Calabar on Thursday, a day after the Wike-backed faction addressed journalists over its concerns about the APC-led administration in the state.
The faction alleged that Wike was sponsoring parallel political activities in the state through Onor and another governorship candidate, Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong, thereby creating confusion within the PDP.
It described the activities of the rival faction as capable of causing a breach of the peace if not checked, urging security agencies to “beam their searchlight” on the group.
According to the faction, “Senator Sandy Onor and his cohorts are not only frolicking, they are endangering the peace and order that have come to characterise our dear state.”
It further urged security agencies, particularly the state’s chief security officer, to monitor what it called “reoccurring and continuing parallel political activities” by the Onor-led faction.
The group alleged that those opposing the Turaki-led leadership of the PDP were being used as “guinea pigs for presidential experimentation” in Cross River State.
It also accused Wike’s supporters of pursuing personal interests rather than the development of the state, alleging that their activities were aimed at self-enrichment and aggrandisement.
The faction maintained that the Turaki-led leadership remained the legitimate leadership of the PDP, citing a Court of Appeal decision which, according to it, recognised the faction.
Reacting to the allegations, Archibong dismissed them, saying: “They’re campaigning for us.”
