I have read with dismay a misleading report describing some members of the Cross River State House of Assembly as “aggrieved lawmakers” and suggesting that we have vowed to work against Governor Bassey Edet Otu and other APC candidates while supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
For the purpose of setting the records straight, I wish to categorically state that this portrayal of our meeting with the leadership of Relax Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria is inaccurate and does not reflect my position.
It is true that we met with Hon. Innocent Egede, the National Director of Strategic Deployment and Implementation of the support group. It is also true that our engagement was partly driven by our desire to be integrated into the group’s national leadership structure and contribute to its mobilisation efforts in support of President Tinubu.
However, it is entirely misleading to characterise our participation in that meeting as a gathering of aggrieved lawmakers or to suggest that we have withdrawn our support for Governor Bassey Edet Otu and other APC candidates.
Personally, I cannot describe myself as an aggrieved lawmaker after being given the opportunity and privilege to serve my constituency in such a significant capacity. My contributions to the 10th Cross River State House of Assembly, particularly in my role as Deputy Leader, remain a source of fulfilment and responsibility to the people I represent.
In Abi State Constituency, a third term is neither an entitlement nor a guaranteed right. Consequently, the issue of securing another ticket cannot, in itself, be used to define my disposition towards the party or its leadership.
For clarity, Rt. Hon. Francis Asuquo Ekpenyong, the Leader of the House, and I participated in a second meeting with the leadership of *Relax Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria*, following an earlier engagement involving some first-term lawmakers.
At that second meeting, we expressed that we were aggrieved over the party’s decisions. We made it clear that we respect and support the leadership of Governor Bassey Edet Otu and the decisions of the APC in Cross River State.
Our request was for an opportunity to be incorporated into the national structure of Relax Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria so that we could contribute meaningfully to its activities and mobilisation efforts.
It is, therefore, surprising and deeply disheartening that an engagement intended to explore opportunities for participation in a support movement has been presented as evidence of a political disagreement with the Governor and the party’s candidates.
Let me state unequivocally that Governor Bassey Edet Otu and all APC candidates in my constituency remain my candidates, and I will work for their emergence in the 2027 elections. My support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not a declaration of opposition to the Governor or any other candidate of our party.
I therefore dissociate myself from the description of “aggrieved lawmaker” and reject any suggestion that I have vowed to work against Governor Otu or other APC candidates.
I remain committed to the APC, respectful of the party’s leadership and decisions, and dedicated to the political progress of Cross River State and the development of Abi State Constituency.
I urge the media to uphold the principles of accuracy, fairness and responsible journalism by distinguishing between genuine political grievances and legitimate engagements aimed at expanding participation in party-support structures.
For the avoidance of doubt, my position is clear: I support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Bassey Edet Otu and all APC candidates. I have neither declared opposition to the Governor nor pledged to work against the party’s candidates.
Signed,
Rt. Hon. Dr Davies Etta
Deputy Leader, Cross River State House of Assembly
Member Representing Abi State Constituency
