March 21, (THEWILL) – The Senator representing Southern Cross River in the National Assembly, Gershom Bassey, says his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), suffered a humiliating defeat during last Saturday’s governorship elections.
Senator Bassey made this known while formally reacting to the outcome of the governorship and State House of Assembly elections held in the State on March 18, 2023.
He said the PDP’s record of winning every governorship election since 1999 has been broken but advised those who lost to take heart and wished them better luck during the next election.
“Today, I am sad for my party, the PDP in Cross River State. I am particularly sad about our loss in the House of Assembly elections and I sympathize with the good men and women, who contested those elections for us.
“PDP’s unbroken run of winning every Governorship election since the return of democracy in 1999 is gone. Also gone are over 22 House of Assembly seats.
“The PDP has suffered the most spectacular and humiliating rejection by Cross Riverians in its over 24-year history. It is now time for very sober reflection.
“Take heart and better luck next time. For the very few that won, congratulations,” he said.
Bassey insisted that leaders must always listen to those they aspire to lead and also eschew negative devices.
He added that the electorates have settled the argument of zoning and by the results, the principle of zoning in the State has been established forever.
“What this election has critically demonstrated is that we, the political leaders, must always listen to those that we aspire to lead, especially in this new age of BVAS and improving the electoral process.
“Cross Riverians are a proud and dignified people. We are also our brothers’ keepers and so, we abhor imposition, bigotry, jingoism, hate speech and even colonialism.
“You, the electorate, have settled all the arguments, postulations, theorizing and calculations.
“You said it loud and clear that having waited patiently for 16 years without complaint but lovingly supporting their brothers in other Senatorial Districts, it is the turn of the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State to produce a Governor.
“You, the electorate, have emphatically said that one good turn deserves another and endorsed “Back To South”.
“The principle of rotation and zoning in Cross River State has been, by your singular action, established forever. End of discussion. The matter is now settled,”, he added.
He congratulated the winner of the State’s governorship election, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, on behalf of the people of the Southern Senatorial District and expressed hope that he will lead the State well and make the people proud.
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
