Senator Bassey Otu, who repressented the Southern Senatorial district in the 8th National Assembly, has proffered that a virile National Assembly was needed to enable President Muhammadu Buhari effectively deliver democratic dividends to the electorate during his second term in office.
He made the remarks in an acceptance speech on behalf of APC aspirants, who emerged victorious in the National Assembly Primary elections, held in the state.
According to him, the caliber of those nominated for the Cross River South Senatorial District are experienced legislators after they had served in various stages of legislation from the local through the state levels.
The senator bemoaned that the voice of the district had been stifled in the National Assembly through ineffective representation in the outgoing tenure, hence the desired change which must be achieved.
He described the result of the Primary elections as a no victor, no vanquished but that the winner is the APC, while commending the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party for empanelling diligent and meticulous party men that have done a remarkable job.
He enjoined members of the party to eschew bitterness but to unite as the bundle of the broom symbol of the party to sweep away all enemies of democracy during the 2019 general elections while thanking them for the mandate.
A member of the election panel, Barrister Nathaniel Ikeocha, who declared the results at the State Party Secretariat at Okoi Arikpo Estate in Calabar, thanked the members of the party for the peaceful and cordial atmosphere which enabled them to perform the task assigned them by the NWC successfully.
He declared those nominated to fly the flag of the party as Senator Otu for Cross River South with 44, 172 votes over his rival Mrs Mayen Mbuk, with 1, 270 votes.
A former deputy speaker in the CRHA, Chief Dominc Aqua, garnered a reaffirmed 12, 330 votes to be returned unopposed for the Calabar South, Akpabuyo and Bakassi federal Constituency.
Others nominated were Hon Bassey Akiba who had just defected from the PDP in the CRAHA to seek representation of Calabar Municipality and Odukpani in the House of Represenatives with 14, 571 votes over Essesien Bassey Edem, who got 2, 045 votes.
Also nominated was a former state PDP legislator Hon Obo Bassey Mkpanam, now seeking to represent Akamkpa and Biase federal Constituency with 12, 006 votes above Ejemot Esu with 606 votes.
