By Kelvin Obambon
Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has inaugurated the All Progressives Congress (APC) State Governorship Campaign Council for the 2027 general elections, charging members to aggressively publicize his administration’s multifaceted milestones.
The high-profile inauguration ceremony took place on Saturday at the APC State Secretariat in Calabar, drawing a massive assembly of party leaders, stakeholders, and enthusiastic supporters.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Otu reflected on the trajectory of his administration since assuming office on May 29, 2023, noting that his first term successfully navigated severe fiscal hurdles to lay a durable foundation for development.
Detailing the financial state of the state at inception, the governor disclosed that his administration inherited a domestic debt profile exceeding N204 billion. Without taking on fresh commercial loans, the government has successfully slashed the liability by over N70 billion, bringing outstanding domestic debt down to approximately N132 billion as of March 2026.
This fiscal discipline ran parallel with a surge in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which climbed from N21.1 billion in 2022 to N31.56 billion in 2023, and further advanced to N46 billion in 2024. Furthermore, the state recovered critical public assets – including Tinapa – while aggressively pursuing the recovery of the state’s oil interests and the Bakassi Deep Seaport project.
Governor Otu underscored his administration’s strict adherence to project continuity, ensuring that inherited and ongoing ventures – such as the Obudu Cargo Airport, Obudu Ranch Resort, the Ranch Dual Carriageway, and the College of Education initiative – were aggressively sustained. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) have also been leveraged to concession the government garment factory and the Obudu Ranch to boost employment.
On security, Otu noted substantial improvements along the flashpoint Calabar-Ogoja Highway through upgraded logistics, boundary-monitoring drones, and synergy with security agencies.
In terms of human capital and welfare, the administration successfully reinstated over 3,000 local government workers onto the payroll and cleared the first tranche of prolonged pension gratuities pending for nearly two decades.
Highlighting economic diversification, the governor pointed to heavy investments in agricultural value chains – including cocoa, rice, potatoes, palm produce, and cassava – bolstered by the distribution of modern farm tools and improved seedlings.
In the sphere of digital transformation, Cross River has deployed over 200 kilometres of fibre-optic infrastructure across the Calabar metropolis. Automated revenue collection, AI-powered public payment systems, and electronic land processing have streamlined governance. Notably, the state’s tech prowess earned international acclaim after its technology team was selected among the top 10 participants globally for the 2026 Artificial Intelligence in Governance and Public Administration Boot Camp in Seoul, South Korea. Over 600 youths have also undergone rigorous ICT training, with many earning foreign currencies.
Summarizing the shift in strategic focus, Governor Otu stated that “While the first term concentrated on recovery, restoration, and clearing the path, a second term will focus on building, economic expansion, and mass prosperity.”
Charging the newly inaugurated council to take the administration’s scorecard to all 18 local government areas and electoral wards, Otu advised them to steer clear of mudslinging.
“Your campaign must be anchored on facts, verifiable achievements, and a clear vision for the future,” he told the council members, tasking them to act as true ambassadors of continuity.
The event also featured strong endorsements for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” economic reforms, alongside the formal welcoming of political heavyweights like Barrister Venatius Ikem back to the APC fold.
