By Kelvin Obambon
In the heart of Cross River State, where political realignments dictate the flow of governance, a new wave of grassroots mobilization is quietly altering the landscape. At the epicenter of this shift is Hon. Oden Ibiang Ewa, the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for the Cross River Central Senatorial District. Through an unwavering brand of political evangelism, Ewa is weaving together disjointed political factions, energizing local bases, and solidifying a unified front to anchor President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s “People First” vision firmly within the district.
From the agrarian corridors of Ikom to the strategic political strongholds of Etung, the momentum behind the APC campaign is gathering force. What began as ordinary political consultations has transformed into a district-wide movement – one driven by strategic foresight, community-level diplomacy, and deep-rooted party loyalty.
Redefining Grassroots Representation in Etung and Ikom
The tide shifted decisively in Etung Local Government Area during an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting convened at the Effraya country home of Prince Ebuta Ayuk. Party chieftains, executive council members, youth groups, and women leaders gathered to formally align behind Hon. Ewa.
“This is the first time in history that a candidate will be establishing such an edifice, such a magnificent office preparatory for his campaign, even before he eventually gets into office,” remarked Prince Ebuta Ayuk, former Presidential Adviser and Grand Patron of the APC Central Alliance. “What we used to experience is that when a candidate gets into office as a senator, then he begins to look for a place to assemble his people. But Chief Oden Ewa has done things differently and properly.”
To demonstrate this confidence, Prince Ayuk donated a fully furnished, multi-story edifice in Ikom on behalf of the people of Etung to serve as both the campaign headquarters and a four-year constituency office at zero financial cost to the candidate or the party.
“We are not paying one penny for it. It is my property. And because I believe in this project, I thought that I should freely, willingly, unequivocally, and on behalf of the good people of Etung, present this to him as a take-off point for his secretariat,” Ayuk added. “In legal parlance, we say pro bono. I can assure you that we didn’t make a mistake to pick him as our senatorial candidate. He will return us back to the glorious days of the Central Senatorial District.”
The enthusiasm was mirrored by grassroots leaders and lawmakers across the district. Hon. Neji Abang, representing Ikom 1 State Constituency, declared Ewa a “divine asset,” noting during the ribbon-cutting ceremony: “By opening this office, this secretariat will bring us joy, hope, and restoration.”
Securing Cultural and Community Endorsements
Hon. Oden Ewa’s political strategy extends beyond standard party structures; it engages deeply with traditional and cultural institutions. In Ikom, during stakeholders’ engagements preceding the historic Ekpache Nkome New Yam Festival, the candidate secured a significant pledge of solidarity from community leaders.
Addressing stakeholders in Ikom, Comrade Francis Bojoro Ndifon, President General of Ekpache Nkome, assured Ewa of an obstacle-free path ahead of the 2027 polls.
“For our brother, our incoming senator, I want to assure this house that Hon. Oden Ewa will not have a problem. I want to assure you that you are at home. Anytime you come to Ikom, feel at home. Like Ikom children who come and sleep with their two eyes closed; when you come here, you will sleep with your two eyes closed,” Ndifon declared.
Acknowledging the gesture, Hon. Ewa reiterated his belief that political mandates must translate directly into tangible community dividends such as improved infrastructure, quality education, healthcare, and good road networks.
“Coming here I’m not disappointed, I’m actually in awe that you can put together such an edifice to celebrate your own, a place where you call your palace, the home of the king,” Ewa stated. “As for me, your candidate for the elections, I want to give you my commitment that it won’t be business as usual. Fast forward, we will win these elections and after that, we will demonstrate truly what a mandate of representation should be all about.”
Anchoring the Central District to the Center
Central to Ewa’s message is the imperative for Cross River Central to remain securely connected to both the state and federal governments. During visits to Effraya for the Etung New Yam Festival, Ewa cautioned voters against falling for speculative political distractions, stressing that the future of the district hinges on maximizing votes for the APC alignment.
“These coming elections will be the most important elections ever in our recent history. The reason is because we have people who do not mean well for our people vying for public office. People who do not know us, people who do not mean well for our state,” Ewa warned. “We will not throw away our votes. Those votes are very important to us. Those votes are our own tool. We must leverage those votes and we must turn up the highest number of votes ever produced in Etung.”
He highlighted key national interventions as proof of Cross River’s strategic position within the federal framework, pointing to the recent visit of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu to Calabar, where N25 million in relief support was extended to each affected business owner following the SPAR fire incident.
Former Cross River State Executive Council member Ntufam Gabe Odu Orji echoed this view, stressing that despite political noise, the district’s priority must remain delivering top-tier representation that attracts federal infrastructure and economic programmes.
Mobilization efforts are equally intensified among women and youth networks across the local government areas. Mrs. Victoria Egba Njah, Community Relations Officer to the Governor of Cross River State, declared that women are stepping to the forefront of the campaign:
“The women of Etung are ready. We will move from house to house, community to community, to ensure APC wins landslide in the next election.”
The Path to 2027
As consultations expand across Cross River Central, Hon. Oden Ewa’s proactive engagement model is reshaping expectations for constituency leadership. By securing functional infrastructure before taking office, earning the trust of traditional institutions, and unifying political actors behind a common ballot strategy, Ewa’s campaign is establishing a strong political foundation.
With aligned endorsements from Etung to Ikom, the All Progressives Congress in Cross River Central is consolidating its position ahead of 2027. By linking local ambitions directly to Governor Bassey Otu’s administration and President Bola Tinubu’s central vision, Hon. Oden Ewa’s political outreach is driving momentum in favour of the governing party across the senatorial district.
