Stakeholders across the five Local Government Areas of Cross River State’s Northern Senatorial District have endorsed Governor Bassey Edet Otu for a second term and pledged to mobilise bloc votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Sen. Agom Jarigbe and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections.
The endorsement was made at a stakeholders’ engagement organised by the Cross River State Consultative Forum at the Ogoja Local Government Council Headquarters.
The event, which drew political leaders, traditional rulers, youths, women and other stakeholders from Ogoja, Obanliku, Obudu, Yala and Bekwarra, was preceded by a sensitisation walk from Ajegunle Junction to the council headquarters.
Speaking at the gathering, former Cross River State Governor and Chairman of the Elders Advisory Council, Chief Clement Ebri, said the exercise was primarily aimed at obtaining first-hand information on the performance of the Otu administration.
Ebri said the team would also engage stakeholders privately to enable them raise concerns that might not be expressed publicly.
“We are more like a fact-finding team,” he said, explaining that Governor Otu had asked the council to provide honest advice on his administration and was willing to make amends where genuine shortcomings were identified.
He appealed to the people to remain patient with the administration, citing the infrastructure deficits and other challenges accumulated over the years.
Ebri also commended Otu for his efforts towards restoring Cross River’s oil-producing status.
Speaking on the 2027 elections, the former governor urged stakeholders in the Northern Senatorial District to mobilise support for both Otu and Tinubu, stressing that a strong bloc vote for the President would strengthen the governor’s influence and bargaining power at the national level.
Chairman of the Consultative Forum, Barr. Eyo Nsa Ekpo, described the Ogoja meeting as the forum’s first engagement in the Northern Senatorial District.
Ekpo said the gathering was not a campaign rally but a platform for stakeholders to assess the administration and deliberate on the future of the state.
He said the stakeholders’ response amounted to a strong endorsement of Otu’s second-term ambition and urged them to sustain mobilisation for the governor and Tinubu ahead of 2027.
He also called for constructive and fact-based assessment of government performance, as well as peaceful political engagement.
The State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Rt. Hon. Chris Etta, represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Ugana Lukpata, urged the party to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the elections.
Etta said the APC must reach beyond its membership base to secure victory, declaring that “we cannot record anything below five over five” in support of the party’s candidates.
He highlighted ongoing projects across the Northern Senatorial District and linked the restoration of Cross River’s oil-producing status to the improved relationship between the state and Federal Government.
According to Etta, Cross River now has 46 oil wells in its coffers, with exploration and exploitation already underway.
He urged the people to continue supporting Otu and Tinubu to sustain what he described as the gains recorded by the state.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the stakeholders acknowledged ongoing projects and other interventions by the Otu administration.
They endorsed continuity for both Tinubu and Otu, while calling for the completion of ongoing projects and increased attention to the development needs of the Northern Senatorial District.
The stakeholders also resolved to intensify grassroots mobilisation, promote peaceful political engagement and sustain consultations with communities and political stakeholders.
They reaffirmed their support for Tinubu, Otu and other APC candidates at the national, state and local government levels.
The communiqué , which was read and moved as a motion by Prof. Mike Okom and seconded and strongly supported by Prof. EGAGA Patrick, was unanimously accepted and adopted by the more than 1000 participants and signed byBarr. Eyo Nsa Ekpo; the Forum’s Secretary, Dr Julius Okputu; Chairman of the Drafting Committee, Ntufam (Barr.) Fidelis Ugbo; and Secretary, Prof. Michael Okom.