The people Democratic Party in Cross River, Thursday     last way, conducted  primaries to elect flag bearers to contest Chairmanship elections into the 18 council areas come August 28,2010. The Primaries which were intended to demonstrate the party's avowed commitment to entrench internal democracy saw the emergence of four former council Chairmen as flag bearers and 14 others for the up-coming race.           

The primaries adjudged by political observers and the electorate as one of the freest, fairest and most peaceful in the history of the party in the state upstaged some notable candidates in most local government areas.

The emergence of Dr Ekpo Bassey as the flag bearer of the party in Bakassi for the August 28 local government elections took many by surprise just as the emergence of Barr Josephine Effiom in Akpabuyo who was drafted into the race few weeks to the primaries.

Calabar South, against all expectations recorded a peaceful election where Hon Ekeng Nsa Henshaw expectedly defeated four other aspirants including the incumbent council chairman to emerge the party's standard bearer of the local government area. In Calabar Municipality, the incumbent council chairman Nh:!fam Eta Mbora garnered 71 votes while his closest opponent, Dr Ani Offiong Ani with got 40 votes.

In another spectacular return, Barr Steven Asuquo emerged as PDP chairmanship candidate in Odukpani local government area. In Akamkpa and Biase local government areas, Hon Dennis Nkiri and incumbent council chairman Dr Emil Inyang who were earlier endorsed as sole candidates were Ieturned unopposed.

Hon Ubi Itam Ettah who also emerged as sole candidate for Yakurr local government area was returned unopposed while Rev Chris Obasse got the party's mandate in Obubra local government area.

Others who were also elected in the party's primaries include Mr Francis Etta, Abi, Tony Ngban, Ikom; Etim John, Etung, John Makpan, Ogoja; Gabriel Ugor, Yala and Emmanuel Ikwen in Obudu local government area.

In Bekwarra local government area, the incumbent council chairman, Hon Legor Idagbo got the party's nod while Benjamin Ambe and Jonas Otu also emerged as the party flag bearers in Obanliku and Boki local government areas.

Though Emmanuel Ikwen emerged in the primaries in Obudu local government area, learnt that his election is being challenged by one of his opponents Mr. Godwin Akwaji over alleged irregularities.

Addressing the contestants and party faithful after the primaries in Calabar Municipality and Calabar South local government areas, the state Deputy Governor, Barr Efiok Cobham urged

The winners to be magnanimous in victory and close ranks with their opponents in the primaries . to forge a common front in the forth coming local government elections. He thanked the party supporters for conducting themselves well in the primaries and urged them to continue to work together as one big family and ensure that the party wins not only the forth coming local government election but all others in the state and country.