Ukorebi Esien | August 15, 2026
CALABAR — Elders and political leaders in Cross River State have passed a vote of confidence in Governor Bassey Otu, declaring their support for his administration while warning against attempts by political actors outside the state to impose candidates on Cross Riverians ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The position was contained in resolutions reached at the inaugural meeting of the Elders Advisory Council of the Cross River State Conservative Forum, held in Calabar on Saturday.
The council, comprising former governors, former senators, members of the House of Representatives, former ministers, former local government chairmen and other political stakeholders, said decisions concerning the political future of the state must be driven by Cross Riverians.
Presenting the resolutions at the meeting, the council declared that Cross River must not become a “dumping ground” for political candidates from outside the state.
The council resolved that every decision affecting the future of Cross River should be taken by people with genuine knowledge of the state and its interests.
“Cross River will not be a dumping ground for anybody outside Cross River to carry out their will. This is our resolution,” the council declared.
The elders also passed what was described as a “resounding vote of confidence” in Governor Otu, commending his administration for its development initiatives and prospects for the state.
Earlier, Chairman of the Cross River State Consultative Forum, Hon. Eyo Nsa Ekpo, said the forum was established to provide constructive engagement, mobilise citizens and create feedback mechanisms between government and the people.
He said the forum was also committed to ensuring continuity in governance, particularly by discouraging successive administrations from abandoning viable projects initiated by their predecessors.
“For too long, we have witnessed a dystopian cycle. A new government takes over, jettisons and abandons projects initiated by its predecessor and starts afresh, wasting resources of the state and in the process setting the state backwards,” Ekpo said.
He added: “We cannot continue to abandon viable projects simply because they were initiated by a previous administration. This forum will advocate for continuity of projects, building on what is already working rather than reinventing the wheel.”
The chairman said the forum would work with the state government through constructive engagement and citizen participation, stressing that its objective went beyond electoral politics to the development and progress of Cross River.
The council's terms of reference, adopted at the meeting, include providing strategic advice to government, monitoring government policies and projects, promoting peace and stability, advocating the interests of Cross River at the national level and ensuring institutional continuity.
Also speaking after the meeting, the Chief Executive Officer of the Cross River State Planning Commission, Dr. Bong Duke, said the emergence of the elders' council would give the state a stronger voice on issues affecting its interests.
According to him, the elders had resolved to speak on issues including the state's oil wells, revenue mobilisation and what accrues to Cross River from the federation.
“There was a time where Cross River was not heard, because only the governor would speak and a few senators. But now the elders have come together,” Duke said.
He added: “They've resolved today to speak for Cross River. So Cross River will be heard.”
Duke said the council would also resist attempts by political actors outside the state to determine who should occupy political offices in Cross River.
“So all those people sitting in Abuja and think they have power, and they're going to perpetuate or institute people in Cross River. This is the end. The elders have woken up,” he said.
The elders also resolved that their activities should remain focused on providing counsel and serving the broader interests of Cross River, while maintaining a structured channel for communicating their views to government.
The inaugural meeting therefore marked the formal beginning of an advisory structure which its promoters said would combine the experience of former political office holders with the need for continuity, policy advice and stronger representation of the state's interests.
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