Reactions trail Jedy-Agba’s withdrawal from gov race

Original Post  BY MUDIAGA AFFE , punch.ng

Mixed reactions have trailed the withdrawal of Mr. Goddy Jedy-Agba from the Cross River State governorship race.

Jedy-Agba, a retired General Manager with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, had contested the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary but lost to Senator Ben Ayade, who is from the same Obudu Local Government Area with him.

Earlier in the week, speculations were rife that Jedy-Agba had concluded arrangements to contest the next governorship election on the platform of the Labour Party following the defection of some PDP chieftains to other parties.

But an advertorial in one of Nigeria’s national dailies during the week purportedly placed by Jedy-Agba seemed to have generated mixed reactions.

Jedy-Agba had said he shelved his governorship ambition and pledged his support to the PDP governorship candidate, Ben Ayade.

While the state chairman of LP, Mr. Austin Ibok, said Jedy-Agba did not officially contact the party before placing the advertorial, the representative of Cross River State in the board of Niger Delta Development Commission, who is a staunch member of the PDP, Mr. Paul Adah, said the move was a welcomed development.

Ibok said the newspaper publication was doubtful since Jedy-Agba had bought and submitted his governorship nomination form on the LP platform.

“The newspaper publication was not signed, it is doubtful. Jedy-Agba is supposed to notify us officially just like the way he did when he wrote to inform us of his intention to join us and contest under our platform,” he said.

But Adah said the development would further boost PDP’s chances in winning the governorship poll.

He said, “The decision by Jedy-Agba to support his brother is a sign that he is not a desperate politician; that he is ready to work for the growth of Cross River State.

“It actually takes a great mind to shelve governorship ambition, we commend him for this. His decision to shelve his governorship ambition will further strengthen PDP in Cross River and boost the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.”