The governor of Cross River State in southern Nigeria, Senator Bassey Otu has emerged the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial flag bearer for the 2027 election.
Otu, who is the incumbent governor of Cross River State, was returned unopposed after delegates unanimously polled 116,038 votes to give him the governorship ticket.
Announcing the result of the primaries at the APC secretariat in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, the chairman of the electoral panel, Samuel Yanap commended delegates for the peaceful conduct of the primaries.
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He stated, “I am proud to say that across the 196 wards in all the eighteen local government areas, there was no report of violence. The exercise was peaceful. The delegates choice was unanimous for Senator Bassey Otu, who was unopposed.”
Responding to supporters who converged on the party secretariat in Calabar for the results of the primaries held, Governor Bassey Otu stated that the support represented the confidence of the people on him to provide the much needed leadership.
Otu also noted, “this unanimous decision shows that the ‘People First’ policy of our administration is yielding results because we had laid the foundation for a stronger Cross River economy. Be rest assured that with your support we will do more.”
The governor urged those who contested for the national and state legislative primaries and lost, to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship, promising that as members of the party, they would be given emerging opportunities to serve.
He also advised winners to embrace humility, peace and unity ahead of the forthcoming general election, “this is the time for all of us to remain united, stay focused and work together for the victory of the APC at next year’s election.”
Legislative Primaries
Meanwhile, the chairman of the APC Cross River State electoral panel, Yarnap also announced the winners for the three senatorial seats, the eight House of Representatives tickets and 25 State Assembly seats.
For the senatorial primaries, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong popularly called “the Standard” was returned as the APC flag bearer for the southern senatorial seat; Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe referred to as the “unconquered generation” also returned as the party’s candidate for the northern senatorial district.
In a keenly contested yet dramatic turn, Oden Ewa, a serving commissioner in the Bassey Otu led cabinet defeated the incumbent, Senator William Eteng Jonas, to clinch the ticket for the central senatorial district.
On the House of Representatives primaries result, contrary to the 2023 election where the ticket for the eight seats were clinched by men, this time around APC has two women flag bearers, Blessing Egbara and Stella Odey-Ekpo on the line up.
Yanap while announcing the State House of Assembly primaries result, revealed that three women, Marjorie Asuquo for Calabar South 2, Esther Bepeh to represent Yakurr 2 and Bridget Alina, who clinched the Obanliku ticket alongside new and returning candidates would be contesting the 2027 election.
The crowd of supporters at the party secretariat expressed confidence in the calibre of the flag bearers to emerge victorious at next year’s general election for as well as pledged to return the Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, back to Aso Rock.
