By Joe Ephraim, Calabàr
Eleven aggrieved members of the Cross River State House of Assembly have called for greater consideration of their political interests in the All Progressives’ Congress (APC), even as they reaffirmed their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The lawmakers made their position known when they visited the national office of Relax Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria, where they held a strategic meeting with the organisation’s National Director of Strategic Deployment and Implementation, Hon. Innocent Egede.
The delegation, led by the Majority Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Francis Asuquo, reportedly expressed reservations about extending their political support to other APC candidates in the state, including Governor Bassey Edet Otu.
The lawmakers’ position was said to be linked to their exclusion from the party’s ticket arrangements for the forthcoming elections, with some seeking re-election for a third term and others seeking a second term.
They argued that they should be given the opportunity to return to the Assembly, particularly as Governor Otu is seeking a second term in office.
Responding, Egede appealed to the lawmakers to reconsider their position and work collectively for the success of APC candidates in the state.
He stressed the need for party unity, strategic coordination and electoral synergy, warning that internal divisions could weaken the party’s performance at the polls.
Egede said the movement was targeting 600,000 votes for President Tinubu in Cross River State, adding that achieving the target would require a coordinated political structure capable of mobilising voters across the state’s constituencies.
He subsequently led the lawmakers to a meeting with the Director-General of Relax Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria, Hon. Bala Ahmed, who also appealed to them to align their interests with the broader electoral objectives of the APC.
Ahmed pledged to integrate the lawmakers into the operational structure of the movement’s national structure, subject to the directive of Barrister Seyi Tinubu, identified as the movement’s chief founder.
The engagement was aimed at resolving the grievances of the lawmakers and strengthening coordination among APC stakeholders ahead of the forthcoming elections.
Other lawmakers at the meeting were Rt. Hon. Dr. Davies Etta, Deputy Leader, Abi State Constituency; Hon. Egbe Abeng Egbe, Obubra II; Hon. Ovat Dickson Agbor, Obubra I; Hon. Ashakia Puis Ashaks, Obanliku; Hon. Victor Nsa, Calabar South II; Hon. Bassey Effiong Bassey, Akpabuyo; Hon. Eyo Bassey, Bakassi; Hon. Okon Nyong Ewona, Akamkpa I; Hon. Mercy Akpama, Yakurr II; and Hon. Kingsley Ntui, Etung State Constituency.
