Nine legislators from the Cross River State House of Assembly, representing constituencies in the Southern district, have cautioned other politicians in the district not to bother indicating their ambition when governorship elections are due in two years’ time.
There have been deep-seated speculations making the rounds that 40-year-old Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong Jr., a former Commissioner for Finance in the state who represents the district in the Senate, may soon indicate his aspiration for the seat.
These speculations seem to have heightened, which is the reason His Eminence, the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, had to come out recently to douse tensions, clarifying that there are no issues between the two sons who both hail from the same Odukpani LGA of the state.
At a news conference held at the NUJ Press Centre, Calabar, the nine APC lawmakers signed a press statement warning that ambitious politicians should steer clear of Otu’s seat because he has been effective in delivering on governance.
They passed a vote of confidence in Otu, insisting that he must return in 2027 for his second term.
“No reasonable team will replace its best goal scorer before the end of the match, when he is still in high performance, and the team still in need of more goals,” they said.
They continued, “As patriotic and people-driven representatives, we hereby pass a vote of confidence on our Governor, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu. We declare, unequivocally, that he is our only choice for the next term as Governor of Cross River State, to continue from 2027 to 2031.
“We appeal to every other potential gubernatorial aspirant not to hope on us but to please decline such aspirations and join forces to support Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu for a second term.
“On behalf of our constituents and constituencies, we, individually and collectively, as the 10th Assembly Southern Caucus, hereby call on Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu to accept, at the right time, to hearken to our clarion call to recontest for the governorship, come 2027.”
They listed Otu’s specific achievements to include economic revitalization and boosting of the state’s IGR, as well as significant impacts in agriculture, infrastructure, youth development, security, and health.
This vote of confidence and endorsement statement was signed by the representatives of the nine State Constituencies in the Southern Senatorial District of the state, including the Leader of the House and Chairman of Caucus, Rt. Hon. Francis Asuquo (Odukpani State Constituency); Hon. Linus Bassey Etim (Akamkpa II); Hon. Okon Owuna (Akamkpa I); Hon. Bassey Effiong Bassey (Akpabuyo); Hon. Eyo Bassey (Bakassi); Hon. Francis Onete Ogban (Biase); Hon. Stanley Bassey Nsemo (Calabar Municipal); Hon. Effiong Ekarika (Calabar South I); and Hon. Victor Nsa (Calabar South II).