Sen. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe (PDP-Cross River) says he will deploy every legal means to defend his hard-earned reputation and victory at the polls.

He told newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja that after he defeated other candidates at the February 25 Cross River North senatorial election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state had been out to tarnish his image.

He accused the APC in Cross River of alleging that he invited thugs to disrupt the National Assembly election in the Cross River North senatorial district.

“After the defeat of the APC at the polls, the party has gone on overdrive in expressing their pain, disappointment and frustration of their failure to steal the elections.

“They have been expressing their frustration at losing the election; it is pertinent to state that their attempt to rig the last election is not a baseless accusation.

“I will still go to court to sue for defamation of character. A petition has been written by the chairman of my party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state,’’ he said.

The chairman of the APC in Cross River, Mr Alphonsus Eba, in response to Sen. Jarigbe’s charges, said he would not respond until after Saturday’s governorship election as he was busy making arrangements for the party’s victory.

The party’s Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr Erasmus Ekpang said he would not comment as it was only the chairman that could speak for the party.

Sen. Jarigbe polled 76,145 votes at the election to defeat Gov. Ben Ayade of the APC who polled 56,595 votes. (NAN)

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