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Ukorebi Esien | January 19, 2026
IKOM – In a decisive move to forestall a repeat of its poor showing in the 2023 general elections, stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State have constituted a data and facts-finding committee to review the party's electoral challenges ahead of the 2027 polls.
The committee inaugurated yesterday in Ikom during a well-attended stakeholders' engagement convened by the Political Leader of Ikom and Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Anyambem, to critically examine the factors responsible for the party's underwhelming performance, particularly in the 2023 governorship election.
Anyambem noted that the initiative is aimed at identifying structural, organizational, and grassroots gaps that affected voter mobilization and coordination, with a view to repositioning the APC as a dominant political force in the local government by 2027.
The six-man committee is chaired by Mr. Odey Oyama, with Dr. Bassey Okim as Co-Chairman. Other members include Prince Eka William, Madam Achi Agbor, Mr. Kingsley Egumi Nnamgbe, Mr. Jones Nkwam, while Hon. Asinya Ntan serves as Secretary.
According to results announced by INEC during the 2023 gubernatorial election, Sen. Bassey Edet Otu of the APC scored 12,883 while Sen. Sandy Onoh of the PDP scored 14,128
Inaugurating the committee, the Speaker explained that the committee's mandate is to carry out an objective assessment of the 2023 elections across wards in Ikom, engage party leaders and grassroots members, and submit practical recommendations that will guide corrective actions and future electoral strategies.
He stressed that the move is not targeted at witch-hunting any individual but is a collective effort to strengthen party unity, accountability, and performance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a related development and what many has described has a major political boost for the APC, nearly 1,000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Nnam Ward, a long-time opposition stronghold, formally defected to the ruling party. Party leaders described the defection as a clear indication of shifting political alignments and growing confidence in the APC within the local government.
Receiving the defectors, Rt. Hon. Elvert Anyambem assured them of full integration into party structures, noting that the mass defection further underscores the need to consolidate internal reforms and grassroots engagement.
Stakeholders resolved that the committee's findings would be shared with relevant party organs at the state level to ensure coordinated interventions capable of delivering improved electoral outcomes in 2027.
The committee is expected to commence work immediately, marking what party leaders described as a critical step toward rebuilding trust, strengthening party machinery, and restoring APC's electoral strength in Ikom.
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