Bassey Otu was proclaimed the genuine governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Cross River State by a Federal High Court in Calabar on Monday.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu made the pronouncement while giving judgement in a matter in Calabar, holding that political parties retain the freedom to choose their governorship candidate.
Owan Enoh, Otu’s rival and an APC governorship aspirant in the state, had petitioned the court following the primary earlier this year to seek Otu’s disqualification as the APC’s governorship candidate.
However, the judge stated in her judgement, ” “That a candidate contesting for the position of governor must be a Nigerian, meet the stipulated age requirement and have basic qualification according to the constitution.”
According to her, the selection of a political party’s governorship candidate is and always will be the right of the political party.
Months of conjecture and discord in the Cross River APC have been put to rest as the party prepares for the 2023 elections.
