Governor Otu, Betta Edu, Others Target 1.5m Votes For Tinubu In 2027 

Prominent political figures in Cross River State have pledged to mobilise at least 1.5 million votes in support of Bola Tinubu the 2027 general election.

The commitment was made on Monday during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC), convened by Governor Bassey Otu at the Calabar International Convention Centre.

Among those present were former APC National Women Leader and Minister, Betta Edu, lawmakers from the National Assembly of Nigeria representing the state, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, party leaders, youth and women groups, as well as other key stakeholders.

Speaking at the meeting, Governor Otu appealed to the President to facilitate the recovery of the state’s oil wells and restore its full littoral status.

He urged the Federal Government to rely on verified reservoir coordinates and existing technical reports to support the state’s claim to oil-producing status.

The governor also called for the reinstatement and expansion of federal appointments for indigenes of the state, noting that such inclusion would enable them to benefit more directly from the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda while strengthening grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 polls.

He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to the President’s development policies, pointing to ongoing federal collaborations that have supported infrastructure development, including the Calabar-Lagos Coastal Highway.

Otu described the enlarged stakeholders’ meeting as an opportunity to commend party members for their unity and loyalty, while positioning the party for intensified mobilisation ahead of future elections.

The governor particularly praised Dr Edu for her dedication and loyalty to the party and the state.

“We are happy you are back at the forefront as usual and in the state,” he said.

Also speaking, Dr Edu urged party supporters to intensify grassroots engagement, promote inclusive participation, and sustain voter education efforts ahead of the 2027 elections.

She encouraged residents of the state to continue supporting the President, expressing confidence that the benefits of the Renewed Hope Agenda would eventually be felt by all citizens, including those in Cross River.

Edu also backed the governor’s appeal for presidential intervention to restore the state’s economic standing within the federation, including its littoral and oil-producing status, following reports of the discovery of more than 100 oil wells within the state’s estuary.

According to her, the next election cycle would require coordinated and strategic mobilisation across wards and local government areas to consolidate previous political gains.

“We must not leave anyone behind or leave anything to chance, so as to prevent past unwanted occurrences,” she said.

“My task is to ensure that we mobilise to deliver maximum votes to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and my governor, His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, come 2027,” she added.

Lawmakers from the state in both chambers of the National Assembly also pledged to strengthen mobilisation efforts across their constituencies, with the three senators representing the state speaking on behalf of their respective senatorial districts.

The stakeholders collectively reaffirmed their commitment to securing what they described as a decisive electoral mandate in 2027 in support of President Tinubu and Governor Otu’s second-term bid.