Bakassi stakeholders back Tinubu, Otu ahead of 2027 poll
Political stakeholders in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State have declared support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Bassey Otu in the 2027 general elections, citing infrastructure, security and political gains under the two administrations.
The declaration was made during a meeting involving former and serving political office holders, elected representatives and government appointees from the area.
Nkereuwem Effiong
Political stakeholders in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State have declared support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Bassey Otu in the 2027 general elections, citing infrastructure, security and political gains under the two administrations.
The declaration was made during a meeting involving former and serving political office holders, elected representatives and government appointees from the area.
The stakeholders began their engagement at the All Progressives Congress (APC) chapter secretariat before moving to the local government council secretariat, where they met the council chairman, appointees and workers.
Speaking at the meeting, Patrick Ene, pro-tem leader of the Bakassi Elders’Forum and former Deputy Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, said the area had recorded developments that, in his view, justified continued support for the Tinubu and Otu administrations.
Ene singled out the proposed Bakassi Deep Seaport as one of the projects with the potential to reshape the economic fortunes of the area.
He said the project had received support from the Federal Government and was awaiting an official flag-off, while the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway would provide an important transport link for the movement of goods and services connected to the proposed seaport.
According to him, the two projects could significantly improve economic activity in Bakassi by opening the area to greater investment, trade and employment opportunities.
Ene also said efforts to restore Cross Rivers’littoral status had reached an advanced stage, attributing the development to collaboration between the state and Federal Governments.
The restoration of the status, he argued, would have important financial implications for Cross River and its oil-producing communities, including Bakassi.
The stakeholders also pointed to improved security in the local government as another reason for their political position.
The council chairman, Effiong Okon, said the security situation had improved considerably, making it easier for residents and investors to remain in the area.
He said council activities were no longer being disrupted by hoodlums who previously created insecurity, adding that the improved environment had encouraged greater confidence among residents and businesses.
Okon, alongside the commissioner representing the area, special advisers and serving and former members of the state assembly, participated in the meeting.
The leaders pledged to work together to secure victory for APC candidates at all levels in 2027, from the presidency to the state legislature.
One of the serving lawmakers also highlighted constituency projects and empowerment initiatives attracted to Bakassi, while promising continued efforts to bring government programmes closer to residents.
The stakeholders said their support was driven not only by partisan considerations but also by what they described as visible development and renewed hope among communities affected by the long-running Bakassi displacement crisis.
They also agreed to sustain consultations among political leaders, elders and other stakeholders ahead of the elections.The meeting ended with a commitment by the Bakassi political bloc to mobilise voters for the APC and consolidate the party’s position in the local government ahead of the 2027 elections.
