Support for Imoke Intensifies in Spite of Appeal Court Judgment (18/7/08)

There has been on increasing spate of demonstrations in support of Senator Liyel Imoke whose election as the Governor of Cross River was nullified by the Electoral Appeal Tribunal sitting in Calabar on Monday, July 14, 2008

At Edim Otop, Calabar Municipality, the Concern Youth Wing of PDP, Ward two, protested against the judgment and requested that every thing be reversed to status quo ante.

The placard carrying youths, who were led by Mr. Uket Omini, said they were solidly behind Imoke, whom they said has done so much for Cross River within his one year in office, adding that the judgement did not reflect the will of the people.

At the University of Calabar, students led by the National Vice President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Mr. Godwin Egbe Jerome, said they reject totally the judgement because Imoke has done well in Cross River, asking that the mandate of the people who voted him into office be restored.

The demonstrators who also included the Cross River Youth Council, National Association of Cross River Students (NACRIS) and Senator Liyel Imoke Political Support Organization, said “we want our Governor to be returned because the judgement is an embarrassment to the State.”

A cross section of women groups in the State also marched to Governor’s Office, Calabar to protest the judgement.

Addressing them, the Commissioner for Information, Ntufam Edet Okon Asim appealed to them to abide by the Appeal Court ruling and work towards the reelection of Imoke.

The women later massed to the Ministry of Women Affairs where the Commissioner Mrs. Ekama Awara urged them to remain calm even as the former Commissioner for Information, Dr. (Mrs.) Sylvia Atsu also charged them to focus on the forth coming election that will return Imoke as Governor.

Government House Press