The preferred choice of Governor Ben Ayade for the Cross River State governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has been disqualified by the APC screening panel.
The panel headed by DIG Suleiman Fakai disqualified Otu following several petitions written against him, regarding his certificate and record of past conviction.
One of the petitions dated 14 May was submitted by Messrs B. Dakum and co, a firm of lawyers.
Although the committee found no evidence of Otu’s conviction, it found his academic credentials questionable.
Otu could not produce his first leaving certificate nor his WASC. He could only produce his secondary school testimonial.
“Bassey Ede Otu was disqualified by the screening committee (governorship),” the document reads.
“We also received a petition dated 14th May 2022 from Messrs B.I Dakum & Co. against the nomination of Senator Bassey Ede Otu. The petition was brought on two grounds: (1) That the respondent, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, is an ex-convict; (2) That the respondent, Senator Bassey Edet, failed to make full disclosure of his educational qualifications.
“Aside this petition, there is no other appeal or petition regarding any other nomination.
“The committee, after due scrutiny of the content of the petition and the supporting documents, found no evidence to substantiate the allegation of conviction of the aspirant before any court of law.
“However, with regards to the allegation of his questionable academic credentials, the subject could neither produce his first school leaving certificate nor his WASC.
“He could only produce his secondary school testimonial. In the circumstances, therefore, the committee has no option than to declare this matter as inconclusive.”
Bassey Edet Otu formerly represented Cross River south in the Senate.
He was born 18 October 1959 and claimed to have attended University of Calabar, according to a Wikipedia profile.
Before he was elected senator in 2011, he represented the Calabar Municipal/Odukpani constituency of Cross River State, Nigeria in the Federal House of Representatives from 2003 – 2011.
He was elected Senator for Cross River South in the April 2011 elections, running on the People’s Democratic Party platform.
Sources: PMNEWS/The Cable
