As the November 2nd Local Government Elections in Cross River State draw near, the people of Wanikade Ward have made a heartfelt appeal to His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Their request is clear: that the party should uphold justice and fairness by micro-zoning the chairmanship ticket to Wanikade Ward for the upcoming elections.
In line with long-standing political traditions in Yala Local Government Area, Wanikade stakeholders have emphasized the need for equity. They call for the APC to honor the zoning agreements established between Constituency 1 (Yala) and Constituency 2 (Ukelle), formalized in 2010 by a committee led by Hon. (Bar) Ogana Lukpata. The agreement ensures the rotation of key leadership positions among the wards in Ukelle, fostering political balance and unity.
Historically, when the chairmanship is zoned to Ukelle, its leaders convene to micro-zone the position to a ward that has yet to hold it. Citing examples, the Wanikade people reminded stakeholders of the 2007 elections when the chairmanship was ceded to Mfuma/Ntrigom Ward, resulting in the election of Hon. (Bar) Fidel Egoro. Again, in 2013, Igede Ward was selected, leading to the election of Hon. Mike Ede Usibe. Each cycle has ensured that a new ward benefits, and Wanikade now awaits its turn.
The people further highlighted that in these zoning discussions, it was agreed that Wanikade Ward would be the next to hold the chairmanship. “Wanikade was specifically designated for the next chairmanship position,” they noted, pointing out that this commitment has yet to be fulfilled. Despite the clear agreement, Wanikade remains the only ward in Ukelle that has never held the chairmanship since Yala Local Government’s creation in 1991.
This long-standing exclusion has created a significant representation imbalance, prompting the Wanikade stakeholders to appeal directly to Governor Otu and the APC leadership. They stressed that it is time for Wanikade Ward to be granted its rightful place, ensuring that every ward in Ukelle enjoys equitable representation in Yala Local Government.
As the APC prepares for the local government elections and candidates declare their intentions, the stakeholders of Wanikade reiterated their call for justice, fairness, and equity. They argued that awarding the chairmanship to Wanikade would not only address this historical imbalance but also promote unity and strengthen the party’s standing in Yala.
In their closing remarks, the Wanikade stakeholders expressed their gratitude to Senator Prince Bassey Otu and the APC’s leadership under Barr. Alphonsus Eba. They urged the party to prioritize fairness and equity in selecting its flag bearer, ensuring balanced representation as the electoral process advances.
