Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has charged the Evidence Group and youths across the state to mobilise support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections, setting a target of four million votes for the President.
Governor Otu said achieving the target would strengthen Cross River’s bargaining power at the national level and enhance the state’s capacity to negotiate more effectively for its interests.
The Governor gave the charge on Saturday while addressing members and supporters of the Evidence Group, a youth-focused movement established to deepen youth engagement, civic participation and showcase the achievements of his administration. Represented by the Deputy Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Sylvester Agabi, Otu commended the Convener for establishing a platform that places young people at the centre of political participation and governance.
“It is time for the youth. That is why we are putting the youths first,” the Governor said, urging the participants to mobilise support for President Tinubu across the state. “We must produce four million votes for the President in the state so that we can have proper negotiating power at the national level,” he added.
The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Ironbar, said the large turnout at the event was evidence of what he described as the positive impact of the administration on the lives of residents. “Evidence, in the first place, is evidence of good living and evidence of the performance of our Governor, as well as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Ironbar said.
Ironbar noted that participants had come from Calabar and other parts of the state, adding that the exercise provided an opportunity for them to express their support for the Governor. He also described the event as an avenue to showcase the beauty of Calabar and some of the routes associated with the city’s Carnival activities.
He said the participation of youths, women, elders and people from different sections of society demonstrated growing interest in the movement, adding that the initiative was intended to build a stronger and sustained support base.
The Convener of the Evidence Group and Special Adviser to the Governor, Comrade Edem Dominic Bassey, described the initiative as a platform designed to deepen youth engagement and participation in governance. He commended President Tinubu and Governor Otu for what he described as their achievements, saying the large turnout reflected the level of support for both leaders.
The Director-General of the Evidence Group, Bassey Henry Eyoma, said the movement was established to harness the energy of young people and channel it towards productive engagement, civic participation and leadership. He stressed that the group was not created to compete with or undermine existing organisations, but to provide a platform for young people to unite and contribute positively to society.
Eyoma said the Evidence Group would focus on showcasing projects and programmes of the Otu administration in education, healthcare, agriculture and infrastructure, stressing that its guiding philosophy was, “No Noise, Just Proof.”
He also disclosed that the group was working with the Cross River State Planning Commission on the development of what he described as the “Yellow Economy,” aimed at exploring ways of converting the social media activities and digital engagement of young people into income-generating opportunities.
Eyoma warned that unemployed and disengaged youths could become vulnerable to social vices, stressing the need to create opportunities for meaningful participation in governance and economic activities.
He added that young people were already playing important roles in the state administration, with youths occupying positions in the State Executive Council and increasingly participating in electoral politics, urging them to leverage such opportunities for constructive engagement and leadership.
By Daniel Bebia and Kingsley Agim
