In a remarkable display of cross-party unity, Rep. Peter Akpanke of Obudu/Obanliku/Bekwarra Federal Constituency on Friday threw his weight behind Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State and President Bola Tinubu, endorsing both leaders for second terms in office.
Akpanke, who has been in the news about his move to defect from the PDP to the APC, made the declaration during a press conference organized by the Cross River APC caucus in the National Assembly. He hailed the “sterling performances” of both the governor and the president over the past two years, stressing his commitment to “anything that will move the state and nation forward.” He also cited the unending crisis within his former party, the PDP, as a major reason for his defection.
“Our governor has done well and deserves our accolades,” said Senator Williams Eteng, chairman of the Cross River APC National Assembly caucus. “Today we are not mixing words; we are going straight to the point. We start with Mr. President, who has also done well. He is like a father to us at the national level.”
Eteng pointed to key projects and reforms initiated by President Tinubu, including the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road, the student loan scheme, and major reforms in the oil and gas sector. “For that reason alone, we endorse him for a second term so that the road will be completed,” he said. “If it is possible, we don’t think any other party should field a candidate for the poll.”
On Governor Otu’s performance, Eteng was equally emphatic, describing his achievements in just two years as “mind-blowing.”
“He has not only completed several abandoned projects but has also initiated new ones that directly impact the people,” he said. Among the highlights cited were visible improvements to Government House, the state library, and the Local Government Service Commission, alongside infrastructural development projects across all 18 local government areas.
“If he can achieve this within just two years, only God knows what he will do before he completes his first tenure,” Eteng remarked. “From what we have seen, if they continue in the next six months, Cross River—and indeed Nigeria—will become a prime destination for investment.”
