Dethroned Obong Of Calabar To Re-Contest

The Obong of Calabar, Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu (V), who was sacked on Thursday by the Appeal Court, is set to re-contest for the traditional stool.
This is coming from the kingmakers of the palace, the Etubom traditional council, who insisted at a press conference in the Cross River state capital on Friday, that the plaintiff, Anthony Ani is not eligible to contest to be Obong of Calabar.
The Chairman, Etuboms’ Traditional Council, Etubom Bassey Okor Bassey Duke, told journalists at the Palace of the Obong of Calabar that “Chief Anthony Ani is not traditionally qualified and eligible to contest to be Obong of Calabar.”
The incumbent according to them, is a descent of an agnate origin of the founding fathers of the Efik Kingdom, and has also fulfilled the provisions of the constitution of Etuboms’ council 2002, to clinch the throne of Obong Stool.
The body maintained that capping is a fundamental, non-negotiable and mandatory requirement for a person to become eligible to contest for the throne of the Obong of Calabar which the natural rule of the land upholds a great deal stressing that, the challenger of the throne was never an issue.
They maintained that, the judgement is still been studied by the body and further pronouncements made to ensure conformity with the said judgement of the Court of Appeal will be disclosed in due course.
While awaiting the date and final proclamation of the Obong of Calabar, the traditional council urges the Efik kingdom to support the truth at all times.
The Appeal Court sitting in Calabar ruled for the removal of the monarch, stating that due process was not followed in the Obong’s selection.
Justice Garba then ordered the Etubom’s conclave of the Obong’s Palace to conduct another process of selecting a new Obong, in which all qualified candidates, including the sacked monarch can participate.