By Joe Ephraim, Calabàr
The Director-General of Neighbour 2 Neighbour Network (N2N), Hon. Bobby Effiom Ekpenyong, has said good governance and sustained engagement with citizens are critical to addressing voter apathy and restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
Ekpenyong stated this in Calabar while responding to questions from journalists during a press briefing, stressing that citizens would show greater interest in politics and elections when governments delivered on their promises and remained responsive to their needs.
“When government is responsive, when government is delivering to their purposes, and people can see, touch and feel the government, they will have interest to participate,” he said.
The N2N DG said citizens needed to be adequately informed about government policies and programmes, while also having opportunities to communicate their concerns to those in authority.
He noted that government agencies alone could not bridge the gap between the government and the people, emphasising the need for direct engagement with communities to reassure residents that their votes mattered.
Ekpenyong cited the security situation in Cross River State as an example of what he described as progress under Governor Bassey Otu, arguing that such developments were often overlooked in political discussions.
“Some years ago, people were living in fear. Today, since Senator Bassey Otu took over as governor, how is the security situation in Cross River? It is even better than some years ago. Who has mentioned it?” he asked.
He accused opposition politicians of focusing on areas where the government had fallen short while ignoring its achievements.
Ekpenyong also said Cross River State needed to improve its electoral performance to strengthen its bargaining power at the federal level, noting that states with higher presidential election votes were more likely to attract greater political attention
.
He disclosed that N2N was targeting at least one million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election, arguing that the state’s estimated voting strength of between 1.7 million and 1.9 million provided a basis for the target.
“We want to win across our state. We want to return with at least one million votes this time around. And that is our mission as a neighbourhood,” he said.
On the forthcoming governorship contest in Cross River, Ekpenyong urged political aspirants to demonstrate competence and relevant
administrative experience, warning against turning the state’s highest political office into an avenue for experimentation.
“Cross River should not be meant for experiment. We won’t experiment with the seat of the governor of Cross River State. That office is not for apprentices,” he said.
He argued that experience acquired through local government administration, legislative duties and other public service positions was important for effective leadership, adding that governance required an understanding of public administration and the responsibilities attached to political office.
