…As Gov Otu Declares 18-over-18 LGA Victory, Says APC Was Cheated in 2023
Vice President Kashim Shettima has made a passionate appeal to the people of Cross River State to renew the mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Bassey Edet Otu, declaring that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has come as the state's most trustworthy friend.
Addressing a mammoth crowd when the APC presidential campaign train berthed at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar on Monday, Shettima, who conveyed President Tinubu's warm fraternity, commended Cross Riverians for resisting lies and propaganda targeted at the administration in the last three years.
"We have come to you again. We have come as the most trustworthy friends you can ever have. These are not empty words. Over the past three years you have shown us support and resisted lies and propaganda intended to misrepresent us. That is why we are here today. We don't take this strong will for granted," he declared.
Shettima described the partnership between the APC and Cross River State as "an alliance of progress, prosperity, opportunity and dignity" centred on the people's welfare.
"We seek a renewed mandate for President Tinubu, for Senator Bassey Otu as Governor, and for members of the National Assembly and House of Assembly. We are asking because authority belongs to the people and those entrusted with authority must return with an account of their stewardship," he stated.
The Vice President anchored President Tinubu's case for Cross River on four major pillars: infrastructure, maritime economy, regional diplomacy and human capital development.
Highlighting the flagship Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Shettima said it was a deliberate initiative to open the state to global economic opportunities.
"It will connect coastal communities, ease movement of goods and people, expand tourism, attract investors and create thousands of jobs. Our vision is for Cross River to become a major beneficiary of this economic revolution," he said.
He confirmed Federal Government approval for the Bakassi Deep Seaport under the Tinubu administration, noting: "When completed, it will become an international maritime gateway, attract shipping companies, generate employment, stimulate industrial development and offer enormous economic opportunities."
Shettima further disclosed plans to locate the Gulf of Guinea Commission Secretariat in Calabar, saying it will boost the state's international visibility, stimulate hospitality and translate diplomatic and commercial activities into jobs.
He cited the disbursement of Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to Cross River students as concrete proof of people-centred governance.
"No parent should have to watch the abilities of their kids surrender to a shortage of money. So NELFUND is here for you," he assured.
Making a passionate plea for total victory, the Vice President urged voters to support APC candidates from top to bottom.
"I stand before you to ask you once again to renew the mandate of President Tinubu as President, and myself as Vice President, and another term for Otu and Peter Odey as Governor and Deputy, and for all members of the National Assembly and House of Assembly.
"We stand before you as the battle-tested, the indomitable, the indefatigable, the audacious, the lion-hearted, the dauntless, the valiant, the resolute, chosen by you, with solemn duty of carrying this great nation to greater height. We ask for your votes for APC and its programme of continued service," he said.
In his address, Governor Bassey Otu, who is also the APC South-South Campaign Coordinator, declared total support for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket, urging citizens to vote APC across all elective positions for seamless governance.
[2 Nov 2026 8:31 pm] Nakanda Iyadim: "This whole task is about the sense of gratitude, hospitality and productivity of the good people of our state, and the overarching personality of Africa's most popular connector, our own Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu," Otu remarked.
Describing President Tinubu as the architect of modern Lagos and a political giant, the Governor stated: "Our President is a man of great intelligence, responsibility, cautiousness, a nationalist and an original strategist who combines talent of democratization and organization mindset."
Outlining the state's economic direction, Otu said key foundations have been laid across agriculture, industry and services, assuring that inherited debts will be cleared as opportunities flourish.
Expressing confidence ahead of 2027, he insisted on securing all 18 Local Government Areas, asserting that the party was shortchanged in 2023 when it won only seven LGAs.
Also speaking, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, lauded President Tinubu's vision of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030, positioning Calabar as a critical pillar of that growth.
Yilwatda noted that the Bakassi Deep Seaport and the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will transform Calabar into a premier maritime hub, extending through Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Ondo and Edo to Lagos, and onward to Togo and Ghana as part of the West African coastal road network.
He further explained that the port will serve as a key holding facility for landlocked countries such as Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso and the Central African Republic. The network will be complemented by rail lines linking Calabar to Port Harcourt, Kano and Maiduguri, as well as the Trans-Saharan Highway connecting Calabar by road through Ebonyi, Enugu, Benue, the FCT, Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe to Maiduguri.
Yilwatda urged Governor Otu to prepare the state's economy by developing warehouses, supporting SMEs and strengthening middlemen networks to capitalise on emerging import-export opportunities.
The rally witnessed an overwhelming turnout from all 18 Local Government Areas of the state. Dignitaries in attendance included the Senate President, Chief Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, South-South Governors and other party executives.
By Nakanda Iyadim
