The return of Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State to Government House in the April 2012 elections may not be easy as the opposition within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is working under ground to scuttle his re-election ambition.
But Imoke’s loyalists, aware of this, are working round the clock to wade off any plan by the emerging dissident group in PDP to have their master defeated in PDP primaries.
Already a political group, consensus for Liyel Imoke 2012, is canvassing for total backing for Imoke in the PDP primaries and the subsequent election in April 2012.
The arrow head in the battle against Imoke for the race for the post of governor of the state in the April 2012 election are principally his political friends whose loyalty is still steeped in Mr. Donald Duke, the erstwhile governor of the state.
Our investigation revealed that Mr. Soni Abang, the former State Chairman of PDP and presently Nigeria’s Ambassador to Mali who is a close associate of Senator Imoke and former Governor Duke as well, is oiling his political wheel to challenge Imoke in the PDP primaries for the post of governor.
A close associate of Mr. Abang told our correspondent that “Imoke has slowed down development in the state and we are set to fast track events again that is why we are pushing for primaries in PDP and I assure you we have done our consultations”
Although calls put across to Mr. Abang to confirm that he has thrown his hat in to the ring for the governorship battle were unanswered.