The Governor Cross River State, Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu has flagged off the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign for the upcoming November 2 Local Government Council Elections in the State.
Governor Otu, represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, PhD, performed the formal flag-off ceremony at the Ikom Township Stadium, Ikom on Sunday.
In his remarks, the Governor congratulated the party’s Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates, acknowledging the rigorous and transparent exercise that led to their emergence.
He stressed the critical role of local government administration in Nigeria's democracy, noting it as a panacea for rural development in line with the “People First” mantra of his administration as an APC controlled-state.
Deputy Governor Odey outlined key accomplishments of the Otu administration over the past 17 months, highlighting simultaneous progress in infrastructure development across the three senatorial districts, enhanced security, improved healthcare, quality education, workforce, and overall service delivery improvements.
Speaking further, he assured citizens that the current administration through the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) is poised to conduct a free, fair and credible poll ahead of the November 2 Local Government election and encouraged Cross Riverians to support APC candidates, asserting that their victory would ensure continuity of the state’s socioeconomic and developmental strides.
Addressing the rally, the APC State Chairman, Alphonsus Ogar Eba, expressed gratitude to Governor Otu for his transparent and inclusive leadership, which he said has brought overwhelming support for the administration and the party.
Eba urged party supporters, including those who were not successful in their candidacies, to prioritize the unity and success of the APC.
On his part, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, called for reconciliation within the party to strengthen unity ahead of the elections, noting that the basic duty of a political party is not just to win elections but to enahry harmony amongst teaming members.
Earlier in his welcome address, the State APC Deputy Chairman, Hon. Ekum Ojogu urged unwavering support from party faithfuls and Cross Riverians for the Governor’s commitment to improving the state, encouraging all party members to set aside any grievances and work towards a shared vision of winning the forthcoming election.
He commended the State APC Chairman, the Local Organizing Committee, and party members for their unwavering support to the Otu led-administration, which according to him is committed to repositioning and take our the state to an enviable height.
In their respective goodwill messages, representatives from the Southern, Northern, and Central Senatorial districts, including Federal Commissioner representing the state in the National Population Commission (NPC), Rt. Hon. Alex Ukam, former Executive Secretary of the National Planning Commission (NPC), Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo, and the Senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate, Senator Eteng Jones Williams, expressed support for Governor Otu’s leadership, urged Cross Riverians to continue in their unflinching suport and prayers for the Governor and the party by turning out en masse and vote for the APC in the forthcoming election.
In his acceptance speech after receiving the flag, Hon. Dr. Sunny Ayang, the APC Chairmanship Candidate for Obanliku, who spoke on behalf of all candidates expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Governor, Deputy Governor, State Party Chairman, and all party members for their unwavering support. Ayang assured them that candidates across the 18 LGAs would embark on an issue-based campaigns and, if elected, would fulfill their mandates to bring the dividends of democracy closer to the people.
The highpoint of the carnival-like event was the presentation of flags to all the 18 APC Chairmanship candidates of the party by the State Chairman.
