2027: Cross River stakeholders rally support for Tinubu, Otu, Jarigbe re-election

Ahead of the 2027 poll, hundreds of the citizenry under the aegis of Team Cross River State have declared support for the re-election bids of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Bassey Otu and Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe.

The supporters, mainly drawn from Across River North Senatorial district , at a rally held on Saturday at the millennium Park, Abuja Saturday, justified their position arguing it was based on the performance of the trio within the last three years.

Coordinator of the group, Dr. Don Clem Enamhe, explained that the rally was convened to commend the President for policies and projects benefiting the state, including ongoing federal infrastructure initiatives.

He also praised the administration of Governor Otu for what he described as people-focused governance and infrastructural development across the state, particularly in the northern senatorial district.

According to Enamhe, Senator Jarigbe has also distinguished himself through constituency projects and scholarship programmes for students, noting that his representation has impacted communities across the district.

“I am the convener of Team Cross River. Today’s rally is to appreciate the good work of Mr. President. He has been able to turn around many things in Cross River State,” he said while citing major projects including the coastal highway and federal appointments given to the state.

“If you look at the coastal highway project, it is unimaginable. At the beginning of the administration, Cross River was also given two ministers. While we are saying thank you, we also wish to ask for more.”

Enamhe also commended the governor of the state, Bassey Otu, for infrastructural development and governance style.

“Since he took over, Senator Prince Bassey Otu has shown so much love for the people. He has made governance more accessible. For instance, he comes to the northern part of the state and even spends nights there.”

He listed several projects including road construction, bridge rehabilitation and work at the Obudu Ranch and airport projects just as he praised the lawmaker representing Cross River North, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, describing him as a “people-oriented senator”.

“Ever since he became Senator, he has rewritten the story of senatorial representation in Cross River North. We never knew that senators could work the way he is working.”

According to him, the Senator has executed projects across the 54 wards in the district, including roads, classrooms and scholarship programmes.

“He has given scholarships to many sons and daughters of the area, including those studying abroad.”

Responding to concerns about the strength of opposition parties ahead of the poll, Enamhe said democracy thrives on opposition but expressed confidence that the leaders being endorsed would prevail.

An APC stakeholder from Yala Local Government Area, Mr. Gabriel Bravo, disclosed that the rally was organised by Cross River North residents in Abuja who remain registered voters in their home constituencies.

Bravo expressed the hope that the mobilisation would culminate in a one-million-man march to demonstrate support for the three leaders and rally voters for them ahead of the 2027 poll.

He added that the Abuja rally was only the first phase of a broader grassroots mobilisation expected to continue in Cross River State.

“We intend to deliver the highest number of votes for the President, our governor and our distinguished senator in the next election,” he said. Bravo noted that many participants at the rally were registered voters back home in the state.

“About 98 percent of the people here are registered voters in Cross River State. During elections we usually mobilise ourselves in buses and return home to vote.

He said the group plans to organise a larger mobilisation exercise ahead of the next elections. “Our target is to organise a one-million-man march in Abuja. This rally is just a prelude to a bigger mobilisation.”

According to him, the ultimate goal is to deliver massive votes in future elections. “In the next election, we intend to give the highest number of votes in the South-South to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our governor and our distinguished senator.”

An APC Supporter, Francisca Ogar urged the leadership of the party to support Senator Jarigbe ahead of the next election cycle.

“In politics, 24 hours is a long time, but if the party wants to win in 2027, it needs a candidate with massive support.”

She described Senator Jarigbe as a grassroots politician with wide acceptance.

“He is a household name for a reason. He is a man of the people, that is why they call him the ‘People’s Senator’. He listens to the people and he understands them.” Ogar added that his popularity cuts across the state.

“When you talk about credibility in Cross River State today, I stand to be corrected, there is no senator in the National Assembly as widely accepted as Jarigbe.”

She thereby urged the party leadership not to overlook what she described as his electoral advantage.