Gov. Bassey Otu (right) and Dr. Betta Edu.
By Anietie Akpan
Heavyweight political leaders in Cross River State have resolved to mobilise no fewer than 1.5 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
The decision was reached on Monday at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC), convened by Governor Bassey Otu at the Calabar International Convention Centre in Cross River State.
In attendance were the immediate past APC National Women Leader and Honourable Minister, Dr Betta Edu; members of the National Assembly from the state; the Speaker of the State House of Assembly; party executives; youth and women groups; and other critical stakeholders.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Otu appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to support the reclamation of Cross River’s oil wells and restore its full littoral status.
He urged the Federal Government to rely on verified reservoir coordinates and existing technical reports to validate the state’s claim to oil-producing status.
The governor also requested the restoration and increase of federal appointments for indigenes of the state to enable them benefit more directly from the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and strengthen grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He reaffirmed Cross River’s alignment with the President’s policies, citing ongoing federal collaborations that have boosted infrastructure development, including the Calabar-Lagos Coastal Highway.
Otu described the enlarged meeting as an opportunity to appreciate APC faithful for their unity and support, and to prepare the party to move into the field and secure victory in the forthcoming elections.
The governor specifically commended Hon. Betta Edu for her “steadfastness, comportment and loyalty” to the party, the state, and the nation.
“We are happy you are back at the forefront as usual and in the state,” he said.
Speaking on the sidelines, Dr Edu called for intensified grassroots mobilisation, inclusive engagement, and sustained voter education ahead of 2027.
She urged the people of Cross River state to keep faith with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, expressing confidence that the dividends of the Renewed Hope Agenda would be felt by all, including residents of the state.
She also backed the governor’s call for presidential intervention to restore Cross River’s economic standing within the federation, its littoral status, and its oil-producing status, following the discovery of over 100 oil wells in the state’s estuary.
According to her, the next election cycle will require serious, concerted and coordinated efforts across wards and local government areas to consolidate previous gains.
“We must not leave anyone behind or leave anything to chance, so as to prevent past unwanted occurrences,” she said.
“My task is to ensure that we mobilise to deliver maximum votes to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and my governor, His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, come 2027,” she added.
Senators and members of the House of Representatives from the state also pledged to strengthen mobilisation across their constituencies, as the three senators representing Cross River State spoke on behalf of their respective zones.
The stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to delivering what they described as a decisive electoral mandate in 2027 in support of President Tinubu and Governor Otu’s second-term bid.
