The All Progressive Congress, APC, in Cross River says it has passed a vote of confidence on President Bola Tinubu and Governor Bassey Otu.

The party endorsed the reelection of the duo in 2027.

The endorsement took place during a grand reception and ‘’Thank You’’ rally for the President and the governor at the UJ Esuene Stadium on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the event was organised by the state’s Southern Senatorial District of the party.

The party also vowed to expel any person planning to contest the party’s primaries with the governor.

According to Mr Alphonsus Eba, Chairman of APC in Cross River, based on the performance of the President and governor, we have passed a vote of confidence for their return in 2027.

‘’Any APC member who comes out to run for the Cross River governorship position against Otu in 2027 will be expelled from the party,” he said.

Similarly, Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong, Senator, representing the Southern Senatorial district of the state, recalled that in 2022 when the President showed his intention to run, they supported him because of his pedigree.

He said that they all saw how he administered Lagos as a governor between 1999 and 2007, especially in the area of security and reforms.

“His reforms have made Lagos the city with the second largest economy in Africa, making it worth about 259 billion dollars.

“We endorse you today for a second term because you came into office as the president and stopped the corrupt fuel subsidy regime and exchange rate issues amidst other laudable policies,” he noted.

Ekpenyong, however, commended the governor of the state for his infrastructural developments and high level security which, according to him, is unparalleled and endorsed him for 2027.

Responding, Otu praised the President for keeping his promises to the nation and Cross River, adding that as a state, they would give him 96 per cent of their votes come 2027.

He said that as a governor, he came in with the ‘’People’s First’’ mantra and could boldly say that in the last two years, he had laid a solid economic foundation for the state.

“Our economic indices have changed both in terms of addition to our gross domestic product (GDP) and productivity level; I know there are areas we have not touched but in time, we will reach everybody.

“On security, when I came into office, we had over 16 criminal camps but today, we have wiped them out, the remaining one.

‘’As we move through July, there will be no more camps in Cross River,” he maintained.

He called on the remaining hoodlums to come forth and accept the state ‘s amnesty.

Otu said that the Bakassi Deep Seaport construction was on the way, disclosing that the president had promised to dredge the Calabar channel from the Calabar Port to the deep sea port.

He, however, thanked all the senatorial districts of the state for endorsing the President and himself for a second term, adding that he would continue to work hard in his remaining two years in office.

NAN reports that the dignitaries at the event include Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, Mr Edem Duke, Former Minister of Culture and Tourism among others.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike has said former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and ex-Senate President, David Mark, never meant well for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

In his monthly media chat, Wike said Atiku and Mark tried to takeover PDP’s national chairmanship but failed.

According to Wike: “There is nothing Atiku and co didn’t do to take over the national chairmanship of the PDP, we stood firm and said no it won’t happen

“The issue of secretary came – which is the life wire of any party – when they did not get it – the issue of coalition started.

“He (Atiku) is from Adamawa, why didn’t his governor join him? Why didn’t Bala join him? We said we won’t allow you to continue playing your old games.

“These people calling my name Wike, am I the one who elected Anyanwu at the National Convention? He was elected during the National Convention.

“When these people now saw that they can’t takeover the party, the issue of coalition came. Nigerians are angry with them, Atiku was Vice President for eight years, he left in 2002 to AC, left to APC, now to ADC.

“How can an elder statesman be jumping, what are you going to tell your children?

“The buccaneers and vampires have left who never meant well for the PDP.

“Since 1999, PDP has been sustained by South-South and South-East because of the kind of politics here.”