Stakeholders from the five local government areas of Cross River State’s Northern Senatorial District have endorsed Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s bid for a second term and called on residents to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the governor in the 2027 elections. The position emerged during a consultative engagement at the Ogoja Local Government Council Headquarters involving political leaders, traditional rulers, youths, women and other community stakeholders.
The engagement brought together representatives from Ogoja, Obanliku, Obudu, Yala and Bekwarra, providing a platform for stakeholders to discuss the performance of the state government, identify development concerns and consider the political direction of the district ahead of the next general elections.
The meeting, organised through the Cross River State Consultative Forum, followed a sensitisation walk from Ajengnle Junction to the council headquarters.
Stakeholders Assess Otu’s Administration
Chairman of the Elders Advisory Council and former Cross River governor, Chief Clement Ebri, described the engagement as a fact-finding exercise designed to obtain first-hand information from residents.
According to Ebri, the organisers wanted to hear directly from communities about the administration’s performance while also identifying concerns that residents might not raise during public meetings.
He said the team would hold further private consultations with stakeholders before presenting its findings to Governor Otu.
That approach, he explained, would allow the administration to receive constructive feedback and address genuine shortcomings.
Consequently, the engagement was not presented solely as an endorsement gathering. It also provided an opportunity for residents and community leaders to raise development concerns and discuss areas requiring additional government attention.
Otu Receives Support for Second Term
Despite the fact-finding component of the meeting, the stakeholders ultimately expressed support for Otu’s second-term bid.
Barrister Eyo Nsa Ekpo, Chairman of the Cross River State Consultative Forum, said the response from the five local government areas represented a strong affirmation of the governor’s bid for another term.
He urged stakeholders to sustain grassroots engagement while continuing to assess government performance based on facts.
The forum also called for peaceful political engagement as the 2027 elections approach.
Therefore, the endorsement combines political support for the governor with a call for continued engagement between the administration and communities across the Northern Senatorial District.
Call for Support for Tinubu
The stakeholders also turned their attention to the presidential contest scheduled for 2027.
Ebri urged residents of the Northern Senatorial District to mobilise support for President Tinubu alongside Governor Otu.
He argued that a strong bloc vote for the President could strengthen Cross River’s bargaining position and give the state greater recognition at the national level.
The argument reflects a broader political strategy in which state-level stakeholders seek to connect their electoral support with federal relationships and development priorities.
However, the call remains the position of the stakeholders who participated in the engagement rather than an assessment of how voters across the district will ultimately vote.
APC Calls for Grassroots Mobilisation
The All Progressives Congress also used the engagement to call for stronger grassroots mobilisation ahead of the elections.
The state APC chairman, Rt. Hon. Chris Etta, represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Ugana Lukpata, urged the party to reach both its members and people outside the party structure.
He said the party needed to strengthen its presence across wards and communities as it prepares for the 2027 elections.
Grassroots organisation is particularly important in a district comprising five local government areas because political mobilisation often depends on networks extending from state structures to wards, communities and polling units.
Consequently, the latest engagement could become part of a wider effort by the ruling party and its supporters to consolidate their local political structures.
Oil Status Becomes a Major Talking Point
The restoration of Cross River’s oil-producing status also featured prominently during the discussions.
Ebri commended Otu’s efforts in pursuing the state’s oil interests and urged residents to remain patient as the administration addresses infrastructure and development challenges.
The issue has become an important part of Cross River’s relationship with the Federal Government because stakeholders see the state’s oil assets as a potential source of additional economic opportunities.
APC leaders also linked the state’s improved relationship with the Federal Government to efforts surrounding its oil assets.
According to statements made at the meeting, Cross River has 46 oil wells, with exploration activities already underway.
Development Demands Remain on the Table
While stakeholders endorsed Otu, the meeting also highlighted the need for continued government attention to development projects across the district.
The communiqué issued after the engagement called for the completion of ongoing projects and sustained attention to the development needs of communities in Northern Cross River.
That demand is significant because political endorsements often come alongside expectations from the communities offering their support.
Roads, electricity, education, healthcare, employment and other infrastructure remain central concerns for residents, meaning continued political support could be closely connected to how communities assess government delivery.
Fact-Based Assessment Encouraged
The Consultative Forum also called for political discussions to remain grounded in facts.
Ekpo urged stakeholders to assess government performance based on concrete developments while maintaining peaceful political engagement.
This position adds another dimension to the endorsement because it places emphasis on continued evaluation rather than unconditional political support.
As the 2027 elections draw closer, political actors in the district will likely continue to present their assessments of the state and federal administrations while opposition voices and other stakeholders offer alternative perspectives.
Northern District Sets Its Political Position
The latest engagement shows that political activity around the 2027 elections is already intensifying in Cross River’s Northern Senatorial District.
Stakeholders from Ogoja, Obanliku, Obudu, Yala and Bekwarra have publicly expressed support for Otu’s second-term bid and called for bloc support for Tinubu.
At the same time, they have asked the government to complete ongoing projects and continue addressing development challenges across the district.
Ultimately, the endorsement represents the current position expressed by the participating stakeholders. Whether that support translates into electoral results will depend on the choices voters make when they cast their ballots in 2027.
For now, the message from Cross River North is clear: its political stakeholders are seeking to combine support for Governor Otu at the state level with support for President Tinubu at the federal level, while continuing to press for development commitments across the five local government areas.
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