By Asuquo Cletus
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State has declared its determination to unseat Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2027 general elections.
The party made this known on Monday during a press briefing in Calabar, where top APC stakeholders vowed to reclaim the senatorial seat for the ruling party.
Speaking at the gathering, the Cross River APC Chairman, Alphonsus Eba, emphasised the party’s commitment to strengthening its grassroots structures and mobilising support to ensure victory. He described Senator Jarigbe’s tenure as underwhelming and assured party members that the APC would field a formidable candidate to challenge him in the next election cycle.
“We also want to say to the senator that it is time for governance. We call on everyone to support the administration of Governor Prince Bassey Edet Otu, as this party also supports them in opposition. However, we have resolved to work very hard to ensure that the seats occupied by National Assembly members in the Northern Senatorial District under the opposition party will be vacated. They will go, they will disappear, and they will be thrown into the cesspit of emotional flotsam and jetsam before the next election.
“And when the next election comes, we will have an APC senator and APC House of Representatives members who will take over the affairs of the Northern Senatorial District,” Eba stated.
He further urged party members to remain united and focused, stressing the need to set aside internal disagreements to achieve their common goal.
According to him, the APC is determined not to repeat past mistakes and has ensured a more coordinated approach in selecting its candidate for the 2027 gubernatorial election, reaffirming its support for Governor Bassey Otu.
“I have come to affirm that we made the best choice. They say one good turn deserves another. That is why we have decided to make it known that, before the Peregrino Government House of Cross River State, the State Working Committee and the State Executive Committee of our party met today and resolved that Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu is our sole candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
“It was a joint ticket he had with His Excellency, the present Acting Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey—a young man whose loyalty, intellect, and unwavering support for the Governor have been remarkable.
“Nobody changes a winning team, and we know that the Governor is a man of wisdom. It is, therefore, the decision of this party that this exceptional pair, by the special grace of God, will fly our party’s flag in 2027.
“All party members and support groups are hereby commissioned to go freely into the field and continue the evangelical mission of mobilising support. We do not need to convince the already converted—we need to do more work by reaching out to our brothers and sisters in the opposition to join hands with us.
“Cross River State politics has always followed a trajectory of peace, love, unity, and growth, moving from the South to the Central, then to the North, and now back to the South.
“And because the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees the right to seek a second term, and because this party fully supports His Excellency, the Governor, and his deputy, even if he is unwilling to run, we are making it clear that we will procure only one ticket with his name, just as we did in 2023. We are appealing to him to listen to the heartbeat of our party members who want him to continue his good works,” Eba added.
