By Our Reporter
Political stakeholders and party faithful in Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency have applauded the peaceful conduct of the All Progressives Congress, APC primaries which produced the member representing the constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Victor Abang, as the party’s flag bearer for the 2027 general elections.
Abang secured the APC ticket after emerging victorious in the direct primary election conducted across the constituency on Saturday, polling 10,850 votes to defeat four other aspirants despite earlier moves to adopt a consensus arrangement.
Among the aspirants who contested the ticket were former Secretary to the Cross River State Government, Tina Banku; Chief Whip of the Cross River State House of Assembly and member representing Boki II State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Hilary Bisong; former lawmaker, Cletus Obun; Joseph Enu; and former Commissioner for Works, Engr. Dan Asu.
Declaring the results at the APC constituency headquarters in Ikom, the returning officer, Eka Williams, explained that the party opted for direct primaries after efforts to sustain a consensus arrangement failed to gain unanimous acceptance among aspirants and stakeholders.
He stated that the exercise complied with the provisions of the party constitution and the Electoral Act, adding that the outcome reflected the wishes of party members across the constituency.
Williams commended party faithful for the orderly conduct of the exercise, describing the process as peaceful, transparent and credible.
Ahead of the primaries, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, had praised Abang’s emergence as the APC consensus candidate for the constituency.
Receiving Abang and party stakeholders in Ikom, Ayambem said the lawmaker’s emergence reflected growing unity and political maturity within Ikom/Boki.
According to the Speaker, Abang’s three years in the Green Chamber had attracted several intervention projects and visible development initiatives to the constituency.
He urged party members to rally behind all APC candidates, mobilise effectively for the party and sustain the spirit of unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting after his victory, Abang expressed appreciation to party faithful for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to justify the trust through effective representation and people oriented programmes.
The lawmaker appealed to his co aspirants and stakeholders to join hands with him in advancing the collective interest of the constituency, stressing that unity and cooperation remained essential for economic growth and social development.
Former SSG and frontline aspirant, Banku, also commended the peaceful conduct of the primaries and congratulated Abang on his emergence.
She praised party members for maintaining order throughout the exercise and expressed readiness to work with the APC candidate for the progress of Ikom/Boki.
In a similar vein, Bisong accepted the outcome of the political process and reaffirmed his loyalty to the APC.
In a message to supporters across the constituency, the lawmaker thanked party members, political associates and supporters for standing with him throughout his aspiration.
He urged his supporters to remain calm and committed to the ideals of the APC, noting that the party’s decision should be respected in the interest of unity and progress.
Bisong maintained that the outcome was not the end of his political journey and encouraged party faithful not to lose hope.
Also reacting, Chairman of Boki Local Government Area, Beatrice Nyaim, and her Ikom counterpart, Mercy Nsor, described Abang’s emergence as a reflection of the overwhelming acceptance he enjoys among party members and constituents.
They attributed his victory to what they described as his impressive representation and performance in office.
In separate remarks, the Cross River State Commissioner for Information, Dr Erasmus Ekpang and APC Chairman in Boki chapter, Kelvin Njong, applauded the transparent conduct of the primaries, saying the process demonstrated the strength of internal democracy within the APC.
