2027: C’River APC endorses Tinubu, Otu for second term

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State has declared its full support for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Bassey Otu, endorsing both men for reelection in the 2027 general elections.

The party’s vote of confidence was announced during a grand reception and “Thank You” rally held in honour of the President and the governor at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar on Thursday.

News360 Nigeria reports that the event was organised by the Southern Senatorial District of the APC in the state, drawing party faithful and supporters from across the region.

During the rally, party leaders not only reaffirmed their loyalty to the President and Governor Otu but also issued a stern warning to any member planning to challenge the governor in the party’s 2027 primaries.

The APC vowed to expel any aspirant who goes against what it described as the “unshakable endorsement” of Governor Otu.

According to Mr Alphonsus Eba, Chairman of APC in Cross River, based on the performance of the President and governor, we have passed a vote of confidence for their return in 2027.

‘’Any APC member who comes out to run for the Cross River governorship position against Otu in 2027 will be expelled from the party,” he said.

Similarly, Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong, Senator, representing the Southern Senatorial district of the state, recalled that in 2022 when the President showed his intention to run, they supported him because of his pedigree.

He said that they all saw how he administered Lagos as a governor between 1999 and 2007, especially in the area of security and reforms.

“His reforms have made Lagos the city with the second largest economy in Africa, making it worth about 259 billion dollars.

“We endorse you today for a second term because you came into office as the president and stopped the corrupt fuel subsidy regime and exchange rate issues amidst other laudable policies,” he noted.

Ekpenyong, however, commended the governor of the state for his infrastructural developments and high level security which, according to him, is unparalleled and endorsed him for 2027.

Responding, Otu praised the President for keeping his promises to the nation and Cross River, adding that as a state, they would give him 96 per cent of their votes come 2027.

He said that as a governor, he came in with the ‘’People’s First’’ mantra and could boldly say that in the last two years, he had laid a solid economic foundation for the state.

“Our economic indices have changed both in terms of addition to our gross domestic product (GDP) and productivity level; I know there are areas we have not touched but in time, we will reach everybody.

“On security, when I came into office, we had over 16 criminal camps but today, we have wiped them out, the remaining one.

‘’As we move through July, there will be no more camps in Cross River,” he maintained.

He called on the remaining hoodlums to come forth and accept the state ‘s amnesty.

Otu said that the Bakassi Deep Seaport construction was on the way, disclosing that the president had promised to dredge the Calabar channel from the Calabar Port to the deep sea port.

He, however, thanked all the senatorial districts of the state for endorsing the President and himself for a second term, adding that he would continue to work hard in his remaining two years in office.

NAN reports that the dignitaries at the event include Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, Mr Edem Duke, Former Minister of Culture and Tourism among others.