By Frank Ulom
Eleven (11) aggrieved members of the Cross River State House of Assembly have met with officials of Relax Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria (RTIFN) in a move to address internal party disagreements over ticket arrangements ahead of the forthcoming elections.
The lawmakers, led by the Majority Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Francis Asuquo, visited the movement’s national office, where they held a strategic meeting with Hon. Innocent Egede, National Director of Strategic Deployment and Implementation.
During the meeting, the legislators reaffirmed their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu but expressed reservations about extending the same level of political support to other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in Cross River State, including Governor Bassey Edet Otu.
Their position was reportedly linked to their exclusion from the party’s ticket arrangements, with some seeking a third term in the Assembly and others pursuing a second term.
The lawmakers were said to believe that they should also be given the opportunity to seek re-election, particularly as Governor Otu is seeking a second term.
Egede, who supports the re-election bids of President Tinubu and Governor Otu, appealed to the legislators to reconsider their position and work collectively for all APC candidates in the state.
He stressed the importance of party unity, strategic coordination and electoral cooperation, warning that divisions within the party could affect its overall performance at the polls and potentially undermine Tinubu’s electoral prospects in Cross River.
Egede also reiterated the movement’s target of securing 600,000 votes for Tinubu in the state, emphasising the need for a united political structure capable of mobilising support across all constituencies.
Following the engagement, Egede led the delegation to meet Hon. Bala Ahmed, Director-General of Relax Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria, who also appealed to the lawmakers to reconsider their stance and align with the broader electoral objectives of the APC.
As part of efforts to address their grievances and strengthen grassroots mobilisation, Ahmed pledged to integrate the lawmakers into the operational structure of the movement’s national organisation, subject to the directive of Barr. Seyi Tinubu, its chief founder.
The engagement was aimed at bridging internal political divisions, reconciling aggrieved party stakeholders and coordinating support for Tinubu and the APC ahead of the forthcoming elections.
Lawmakers in attendance
Other members of the delegation were Rt. Hon. Dr Davies Etta, Deputy Leader representing Abi State Constituency; Hon. Egbe Abeng Egbe, Obubra II; Hon. Ovat Dickson Agbor, Obubra I; and Hon. Ashakia Puis Ashaks, Obanliku.
The delegation also included Hon. Victor Nsa, Calabar South II; Hon. Bassey Effiong Bassey, Akpabuyo; Hon. Eyo Bassey, Bakassi; Hon. Okon Nyong Ewona, Akamkpa I; Hon. Mercy Akpama, Yakurr II; and Hon. Kingsley Ntui, Etung.
The meeting comes amid efforts by the movement’s leadership to engage aggrieved party stakeholders and encourage coordinated political mobilisation in Cross River State.
