Why I didn’t participate in Bakassi LG polls - Ita-Giwa

Gill, Nsa-Abasi, Calabar - 28.01.2008

Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, has explained why she did not take part in the rescheduled local government elections held on Saturday in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State, her native place.

Senator Ita-Giwa, who spoke from her residence in Calabar, said she did not actually boycott the elections, but only stayed out of it because there was a pending court injunction restraining the authorities concerned from conducting elections in the place.

“I did not boycott the elections. There are two reasons why you did not see me. One, I was engaged in the burial of my childhood/best friend; and two, there is a court injunction against the conduct of election in Bakassi until certain issues are addressed as contained in the substantive matter before the court.

“Besides, my prayer is that elections should be held in the island of Bakassi (Abana, Atabong and others) because our people are still there. There is an injunction and until the injunction is addressed, as a lawmaker, I will not take part in anything that is illegal or out of order,” she said.