As the 2015 elections approaches, takes a look at the fierce battle for the Cross River Central Senatorial Seat between two top contenders. 
The battle line has been drawn in Cross River Central Senatorial district. The bone of contention is the Senate seat and 2015 is the time for the fierce battle. The top contenders are: the incumbent Senator, Victor Ndoma-Egba and Hon. Owan Enoh, Member Representing Etung/Obubra in the House of Representatives.
The duo, both from the PDP stock, has spent 12 years each in the National Assembly. Within this period, they have both impacted positively on the lives of their constituents as well as played vital roles in the development of the nation’s economy.
In fact, they are all key political players in the state and national level and have positively affected the lives of many people across the state and are still prepared to offer service to the people. Ndoma-Egba had served as a commissioner for works in the state during the military era while Owan-Enoh had been a member of the State House of Assembly.
Ndoma-Egba for instance, has been very effective and vocal in the upper House having sponsored so many critical bills in the Senate including the Nigerian Prisons services Act (Repeal and Re-enactment bills 2009, Criminal Justice bill 2009, Abolition of Discrimination against Women Bill 2009, Freedom of information Bills 2008 among others. He is indisputably a very experience lawmaker with robust intellectual prowess.
Owan-Enoh on the other hand is not a green-hound in legislative matters. He is also gifted in the act of lawmaking having grown through the ranks as a member of the Cross River State House of Assembly. He went to the lower House of the National Assembly in 2003 and has equally done well. He also has some bills to his credit including the Fiscal Responsibility Act (Amendment) Bill 2011, Criminal Code Act (Amendment Bill) 2011 among others.
But as the 2015 elections gather steam, they have both embarked on serious horse trading in a bid to outdo each other to grab the coveted seat.
While Ndoma-Egba who is currently the Senate leader is seeking to retain his exalted position in the Upper House, Owan-Enoh on the other hand has embarked on underground moves to upstage him (Ndoma-Egba) and grab the Senatorial seat.
Pundits believe that a lot of factors will determine the winner of this epic battle which may go down in history as the most fierce and dramatic battle in the political history of the country. Ndoma-Egba has over time had his own fair share of criticisms with some saying he is too elitist and has not effectively impacted on the lives of the people at the grass root. This, according to pundits, might be his greatest undoing. Others argue that his political connections at the national level might just be a great advantage. But one ponders? Will President Jonathan, Senate President, David Mark and other leaders at the National level prove their mettle to ensure that Ndoma-Egba retains his position or would the power brokers at the state level prove to be tougher than the national?
The answer is to these confusing questions is however not far-fetched as it appears Ndoma-Egba has fallen out of favor with the State leadership of the PDP, with speculations making the rounds that the Governor of the State, Senator Liyel Imoke is opposed to his fourth term bid and has allegedly anointed Owan-Enoh to take over from him (Ndoma-Egba).
In fact, many top government functionaries have already allegedly pitched tent with Owan-Enoh. Some say these functionaries are acting on the orders of the Imoke. This is because some of these functionaries are sometimes spotted with Owan-Enoh at various occasions. For instance, when Owan-Enoh visited the State PDP secretariat few weeks ago to purchase intent form to run for the senate, serving commissioners and Special Advisers were seen in his (Owan-Enoh’s) entourage. Some people say that it is a clear indication that Owan-Enoh’s ambition is stoutly supported by Imoke, other argue that it was a personal decision of those who chose to align with him and has nothing to do with any form of endorsement by the governor.
But few weeks ago, during a rally , in Ikom local government area, about 150 kilometers from Calabar, the State Capital, Owan-Enoh’s ambition seemed to have got the biggest boost as State House of Assembly members, House of Representatives members, women groups, council chairmen and councilors turned out en-masse to adopt him as their sole candidate for the Central Senatorial position. This is even as over 100 support groups trooped out singing and drumming support for Owan-Enoh who they see as someone with greater grass root clout than Ndoma-Egba. The question is, would this massive show of support for Owan-Enoh translate into victory at the end of the day or would it go the other way?
Ndoma-Egba is however not left in the cold. He too has been endorsed by some groups and stakeholders. Some of the groups are: Central Stakeholders forum (SSF) from the six local government areas that comprise the senatorial district, students of the Niger Delta region operating under the platform of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and many other groups.
While the insinuations and endorsement intensifies, Ndoma-Egba had during a recent chat with newsmen in Calabar doubted the claims in some quarters that the Governor is opposed to his return to the Senate.
He had said, “I am a very methodical person. If I want to do things I make sure all the processes are followed. I have been to him to formally inform him at least twice that I am running for my seat and he did not oppose it. He said it makes sense. And if you notice, forget the speculation you hear outside. Has the governor ever openly said he is opposed to me? He has never said it. It’s just speculation.”
Giving reasons for seeking another term in the Senate, Ndoma-Egba had also said, “I have been very consistent in the growth of the National Assembly as an institution. Elsewhere in the world parliamentarians are encouraged to stay on because it stabilizes the polity. So for me, it’s nothing personal. We have managed to stabilize the polity during our own leadership. I have been in leadership since 2007 when Senator David Mark became senate President and we have seen stability in the senate. Why should we now leave and bring in instability when people are looking for stability so that the nation can move forward.
“CRS has a senate leader today for heaven sake, it has taken over 30 years from the days of Dr Joseph Wayas for us to get this close then you now say for somebody’s personal interest we should go back and start all over. David Mark is coming back for an unprecedented 5th term and his people recognize the advantages of his coming back. And the State including the Governor has gone out openly to say this seat is not available because they know the benefit the seat brings to them.”
Owan-Enoh had also said in an interview that he is contesting for the seat because he could do better in the Senate.
He had said, “I can do better in the Senate. As I go to the Senate I also open the space for the Obubra people to go to the House of Representatives.
“I think that representing the Central is going to provide another excellent opportunity to be of service to the people of the central. I have been involved and I will find the genuine gap for the leadership of the central and it fires me on to the Senate”
The PDP Chairman, Ntufam John Okon in an interview said that the aspirants will be accorded equal opportunity to test their popularity in the field. Hear him: There will be no foul play. Everyone will have equal chance because here we give all our candidates the necessary support. Let me assure you that there will be a level playing ground”
But, when the two elephants take to the battle field, would there be a level playing ground? 2015 holds the key to this answer.
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