Concerned stakeholders in Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State have urged Governor Bassey Otu to disqualify Hon. Bridget Alina from contesting the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Obanliku State House of Assembly seat. Alina, a former member of the dissolved Cross River State Local Government Service Commission, is currently under investigation by a state panel over allegations of job racketeering and financial impropriety during her tenure. The stakeholders, in an open letter to the Governor, cited ongoing probes into claims that job seekers made payments through intermediaries for employment facilitation under Alina's watch. They warned that permitting a candidate under active investigation to participate in party primaries could undermine the integrity of Governor Otu's reform agenda, which included the dissolution of the commission over loss of public trust.
The stakeholders commended Otu's decision to dissolve the commission and appoint a new one, calling it a step toward transparency. They also welcomed the creation of an investigative panel but raised concerns about its neutrality, alleging that Dr (Mrs) M.T. Ikwen, the panel's secretary, publicly endorsed Alina during community meetings. This, they argued, risks compromising the credibility of the investigation. The group emphasized that public office should be reserved for individuals with proven integrity and accountability, and that zoning considerations should not override merit. They called on the APC and the Governor to await the panel's findings before allowing any implicated aspirant to proceed.
Hon. Bridget Alina responded, stating that no court has convicted her of corruption. She admitted to being allocated job slots during her tenure and sharing them with stakeholders, but maintained she did nothing wrong. Alina described herself as a committed party member and affirmed her qualification to represent Obanliku.
A candidate under formal investigation for job racketeering is seeking a party ticket to represent her community, even as the probe's neutrality is questioned over alleged public endorsements by a panel official. Governor Otu's reform agenda now faces a credibility test: whether the same standards applied to dissolving a commission extend to screening political candidates. Allowing Alina to run before the investigation concludes risks equating party loyalty with accountability. The situation turns a spotlight on how internal party processes align with public trust.
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