The 2026 Etung New Yam Festival has evolved beyond its traditional celebration of harvest and culture, providing a significant platform for grassroots political engagement, with Barrister Gilbert Agbor, Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Edet Otu on Asset Management and Recovery, at the centre of a growing mobilisation for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Held across communities in Etung Local Government Area, the festival brought together traditional rulers, women, youths, political leaders, community groups and other stakeholders, with Agbor’s country home in Etomi, one of the communities in the local government area, serving as a major meeting point for several of the engagements.
Against this backdrop, traditional leaders, women, youths and other stakeholders in Etomi and the wider Etung axis declared their support for Governor Otu and other APC candidates, citing what they described as the administration’s impact on the state and Agbor’s sustained engagement with constituents.
The stakeholders endorsed Governor Otu and Deputy Governor Rt. Hon. Peter Odey for another term, alongside Oden Ewa for the Senate, Blessing Egbara for the House of Representatives and Dr Erim Agbor for the Cross River State House of Assembly.
Speaking on behalf of the traditional leadership, community stakeholders commended Governor Otu’s administration, describing his “Season of Sweetness” as a period in which they had experienced what they considered a renewed sense of governance. One of the traditional leaders said, “This is the first time in over 30 years that we have felt the touch of true governance.”
Beyond their endorsement of the APC candidates, the traditional leaders also acknowledged Agbor’s style of grassroots engagement, describing him as a progenitor of what they called “Politics Without Bitterness.” The description reflects the emphasis placed on dialogue, accessibility and community engagement during the various meetings.
Similarly, the youths said Agbor’s accessibility and interventions had strengthened their interest in supporting the APC. John Tangbe, Chairman of the Defendable Force of Bendeghe Ekiem, said Agbor had remained accessible to young people across Etung and that his impact had been widely felt.
“You’re one of the leaders in Etung Local Government Area in this present dispensation who is easily accessible, most especially to the youths, and your impact on the youths of Etung and Cross River State at large has been widely felt. From across Etung communities, the story is the same. Our support for Prince Otu and the APC is 100 over 100,” Tangbe said.
In recognition of Agbor’s leadership and engagement with young people, the Defendable Force presented him with an Award of Excellence in Etomi, describing his leadership as inspiring, transparent and youth-friendly. The gesture further underscored the growing interaction between the political leadership and community-based youth groups.
Women were equally central to the mobilisation. APC women leaders from the 10 wards of Etung, led by Irene Awachor alongside the ward chairmen, visited Agbor at his country home in Etomi, where they pledged their support for Governor Otu and the APC candidates. Other Etung women groups also used the festival period to express their backing for the candidates.
The mobilisation also extended to the sporting community, with Etomi Strikers, winners of the Etung New Yam Football Tournament, pledging their support for Governor Otu and the APC candidates. The convergence of political, cultural and sporting activities provided Agbor with multiple platforms for engaging different segments of the community.
Adding his voice, the Natural and Supreme Leader of Etomi and former Commissioner for Water Resources and Infrastructure, Ntufam Gabe Odu-Orji, said the community would work towards delivering the APC candidates across the ballot. He also made critical remarks about the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), characterising it as lacking the capacity to challenge the APC; a political assessment attributable to him rather than an independent finding.
Meanwhile, Etomi APC Ward Chairman, Rodrick Itafu Abang, commended Governor Otu for appointing Agbor as Special Adviser, saying the appointment had contributed to what he described as lasting peace within the community.
For Agbor, however, the engagements form part of a wider mobilisation strategy extending beyond Etomi and Etung to the larger Central Senatorial District. He made this clear when he outlined the political structure he was working to mobilise, saying, “The mobilisation for the forthcoming election is from top to bottom. We’re not negotiating with anybody. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for President, His Excellency Prince Bassey Edet Otu for Governor, Oden Ewa for Senate, Blessing Egbara for Federal House of Representatives and Dr Erim Agbor for State House of Assembly.”
The 2026 Etung New Yam Festival, therefore, provided more than a cultural gathering. Through a combination of traditional meetings, youth engagements, women’s mobilisation, sporting activities and political consultations, it offered Agbor a platform to deepen his grassroots outreach and connect with diverse groups across the local government area.
With the engagements stretching from Etomi to other communities in Etung and, by extension, eliciting interest across the Central Senatorial District, Agbor’s activities point to a mobilisation strategy anchored on sustained community contact. As the 2027 political season approaches, the various engagements have placed the APC’s candidates at the centre of an expanding grassroots conversation in Etung.
