The Cross River State representative on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Rt. Hon. Orok Otu Duke, has urged the All Progressives Congress in the state to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning against complacency.
Duke made the call on on Sunday while reacting to the outcome of the Osun State governorship election, where the candidate of the Accord Party, Ademola Adeleke, defeated the APC.
He noted that if the Accord party could win in Osun state despite the APCs mobilisation then no state chapter should take 2027 for granted.
“The result in Osun should serve as a wake-up call to APC members across the country, including Cross River”.
“The victory of Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party over the APC in Osun is a clear signal. Elections are no longer won by federal might or ruling party but on the field, through painstaking mobilisation, engagement, and delivery,” he said.
Duke urged the Cross River APC leadership, stakeholders, and members to begin intensive voter engagement now across the 18 Local Government Areas.
He added that the party must also work to retain members, resolve internal differences, and bring more youths and women into active politics ahead of 2027.
“We must intensify mobilisation in Cross River. We must go back to the wards, to the villages, to listen to the people and bring them into the fold. The President’s Renewed Hope Agenda must be felt at the grassroots and we must be the ones to sell it”.
“I must commend the state working committee who are currently on a local government by local government engagement tour, I also call on the local government chapters to replicate same to all wards and polling units” Duke advised.
The former lawmaker, however, expressed confidence that with proper mobilisation and communication, the APC will retain power at the center and make further gains in Cross River in 2027.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for his bold economic reforms, saying the gains will become more visible to Nigerians in the coming months and will aid the party’s campaigns..
He called on party faithful to shun infighting and focus on issue based politics as the countdown to 2027 begins.
