Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, southern Nigeria have called for peace, transparency, fairness, honesty, accountability and unity at the ongoing ward and chapter congresses.
The stakeholders, who converged on the Calabar International Convention Centre, made the call during a recent meeting in Calabar the capital of Cross River State.
At the meeting, the speakers, including Governor Bassey Otu, emphasised that the overarching goal of the congresses was to build a formidable grassroots structure capable of returning APC candidates at all levels.
“No Imposition”
In his remarks, Governor Otu cautioned against the imposition of candidates and manipulation of lists ahead of the congresses.
Otu, who vehemently dismissed rumours that he had sent emissaries to collect names, firmly stated, “we will not accept this; when somebody sits down on his own and begins to write a list. Totally unacceptable.
“Let the different leaders in the local governments discuss. Some of the party positions rotate. All those sensitivities should be put into play so that whatever comes out is fair — a proper representative of the people”, the governor emphasized.
He further emphasised that electoral outcomes would ultimately depend on public goodwill rather than imposed structures, saying “I have seen people set up structures around them and I collect all those structures. If you are good to the people, the people cannot go against you.”
The governor also stressed the need for rancour-free congresses and consensus-building at the grassroots, warning that the party would intervene where fairness is compromised.
He said, “where there are problems, we will visit that place and put somebody, who we think will be fair enough to manage the affairs and make sure we deliver.”
Reiterating the broader objective, Otu urged the APC in Cross River to fully align with the national leadership, staying “we want to deliver to Jagaban big time. Jagaban has some bigger programmes for this state — huge ones — and we cannot miss it”..
Successful General Elections
Similarly, the national assembly members led by the senators representing the three senatorial district, urged party faithful to ensure smooth internal process that would reposition the APC for victory at the 2027 general elections.
Representing the southern senatorial district, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, reminded the people that the congresses were about putting structures in place to support the party’s national leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and ensure electoral success from top to bottom.
In his remarks, the senator representing the central senatorial district, Senator Eteng Williams stated, “when the south-south meets we are not going to sit at the back, we are going to sit at the front to say, well done”.
Also, the leader of the national assembly caucus and Senator representing the northern senatorial district, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe noted that the people were united and committed to the collective interest of the state and urged the party to provide established leadership lists across the 196 wards to ensure transparency.
Earlier, the acting State Chairman of the APC, Mr. Ekung Ojogu and the State Secretary, Patrick Asikpo-Okon commended the governor for stabilising and strengthening the party in Cross River State. They urged the stakeholders to ensure that the congresses succeed and that the party remain as one indivisible body in the pursuit of equity and fairness.