By Magnus Effiong
A frontline women leader in Cross River and a prominent voice in Efik kingdom, Obonganwan Barbara James has decried a reported physical assault on members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Bakassi at the weekend during a party event allegedly orchestrated by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a press statement made available to PillarToday, Sunday, Obonganwan Barbara James, described the said attack as “lawlessness which must be nipped in the mud, ” and called on political leaders “to set the right tone for the 2027 election season or risk an escalation of violence and insecurity that will transcend politics.”
She said: “Yesterday Saturday 14th March 2026, a meeting of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was disrupted by touts and cultists in Bakassi Local Government of Cross River State.
“Viral video evidence marks a grave reflection point in the political affairs of Cross River State as we begin the 2027 election season and questions the quality of political leadership in the State.
“A State in which opposition political parties or factions are not allowed their constitutional right to meet freely is a lawless State. Such lawlessness must be nipped in the bud and the culprits arrested and prosecuted.
“I call on all political leaders in the State to denounce this political violence, and cascade the message to their political followers that such violence will not be tolerated and anyone causing or escalating insecurity in the State will be dealt with appropriately.
“I especially call on the State Governor, Local Government Chairmen, political party and political movement leaders as well as community leaders to publicly and robustly denounce this violence in order to set the right tone for this election season.
“Without a robust denunciation of this kind of political violence, Cross Riverians can expect an escalation of insecurity that will spill over into society and beyond the 2027 elections.
We are a peaceful and peace loving people, who thrive on hospitality, tourism and investment. Insecurity in our State will jeopardise all three,” she stated.
