The Cross River State Government has pledged that it will mobilise voters in the state to deliver no less than 1.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Governor Bassey Otu made the pledge on Monday in Calabar, the state capital, during the inauguration of the state chapter of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement and distribution of 25 campaign vehicles and other campaign materials to the state coordinators.
According to latest data from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Cross River state has 1,928,978 registered voters.
Otu, who was represented by the deputy governor, Dr. Peter Odey, said the entire Cross River state was for Tinubu as a mark of appreciation for the developments he had brought to the state, including the Lagos-Calabar Super Highway, increased federal allocation which has ensured prompt salary payment and infrastructure development, amongst others.
He said it was also important to re-elect the president so that the state can regain its status as an oil producing state and the actualisation of the Bakassi Deep Sea Port which the president will commission on November 13, 2026.
“If we don’t support Tinubu to be reelected, we will miss a lot so, a support for Tinubu is a support for ourselves.
“If we were to give the president 1 million votes, the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement has made it 1.5 million because of the logistics support which will enable us go deep into the corners of the state to campaign at every door,” the governor stated.
Earlier, Grand Patron of the Movement, Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, called on Cross Riverians to come out enmasse and vote for Tinubu and all other APC candidates in the 2027 election.
Tompolo, who was represented by Kestin Pondi, Managing director of Tantita Security Services, likened ongoing reforms to plant and harvest season and human gestation, saying it takes time but is sure to yield positive results provided the right steps are taken.
“Today, we no longer have fuel queues. We like to compare Nigeria with Asian countries that are doing well, like Malaysia and Indonesia, but one thing we forget to remember is that in those countries, reforms took over 25 or 35 years in some cases.
“Given the same conditions as we have in Nigeria, under which President Tinubu is operating, they may not have achieved what he has achieved in four years.
“If you want reforms like NELFUND which is guaranteeing tertiary education for your children, more federal allocation to your state for projects and so on, you must reelect Tinubu to continue,” he said.
The leader of the movement noted that he had seen some of the projects done in the state, a development he attributed to increased federal allocation, adding that Cross River has become a model for other states to emulate.
“We cannot start development and truncate it. We want you to vote APC candidates in all elections,” he added.
Tompolo, who emphasised that the vehicles donation was to support the state in its campaign, said: “we’ll stand by you in this campaign. If the plan was to deliver 80%, this should help you take it to 99%.”
Earlier, National Coordinator of the Movement, Sunday Asuku, while calling on the people to get ready to make a loud statement with their PVCs in the 2027 election, pointed out that “Rome was not built in a day and here in Nigeria too, Preident Tinubu is doing it one step at a time and doing it well.”
He said what Nigeria needs now is continuity and consolidation of ongoing reforms, and so people should tell the opposition that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock.
Also speaking, the state chairman of the APC, Sony Etta, said in Cross River, the people have no other option than Tinubu who has done so much for the state.
“We will use the election to show appreciation for all he has done for the state. We have gained a lot and there is more to come and for that, we are fully with him,” he added.
