 |
Ukorebi Esien | September 2, 2026
ABI — As the 2027 general elections draw nearer amid growing political activities and claims of increasing opposition strength within the Central Senatorial District of Cross River State, a political support group, Voice of Central, has taken a major step towards defining its political direction by adopting candidates across the district.
The group, which has established a visible grassroots political structure across the six Local Government Areas that make up the Central Senatorial District, unveiled its list of preferred candidates at a mobilisation event attended by its leaders and members.
The adoption, according to the Director-General of Voice of Central, Comrade Victor Bassey, followed extensive consideration of the political credentials, capacity and suitability of the various candidates.
Bassey explained that the decision was not reached merely on the basis of political affiliation or popularity, but was carefully considered to ensure that those adopted possessed the qualities required to effectively represent their constituents at the various levels of government.
He said Voice of Central believes that the quality of leadership that emerges from the 2027 elections will have significant implications for the development and political future of the Central Senatorial District.
According to him, the group therefore subjected the candidates to careful consideration before arriving at its decision to support them.
- “The decision to adopt these candidates was carefully taken. We looked at their capacity, experience, character, connection with the people and, most importantly, their ability to provide effective representation at the various levels of leadership.”
He said the group was not interested in merely supporting candidates for the sake of political participation, stressing that its objective was to identify individuals it believes can provide quality representation and contribute meaningfully to the development of their constituencies.
A Structure Built for the Grassroots
Bassey said the adoption of the candidates would now be followed by an intensified grassroots mobilisation campaign across the Central Senatorial District.
He disclosed that Voice of Central currently has a 5,024-member executive structure spread across the senatorial district, covering the Local Government, ward and polling-unit levels.
The structure, he said, covers six Local Government Areas, 66 wards and 1,152 polling units, giving the organisation a significant presence at the grassroots.
He said the organisation would deploy the structure towards voter sensitisation, political education, grassroots engagement and mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
- “We have built a structure that is present at the grassroots. Our responsibility now is to take the message directly to the people, engage them and explain why we have taken this position,” he said.
Bassey urged members of the organisation to return to their respective wards and polling units and commence sustained engagement with the electorate.
He also called for discipline, unity and loyalty among members, stressing that the success of the organisation's political objective would depend on collective effort.
‘We Are Going for Victory’
The Voice of Central DG said the organisation was prepared to move beyond social media activities and establish a sustained physical presence in communities across the senatorial district.
He said the group would work to mobilise support for its adopted candidates from the State Assembly level through the National Assembly, Governorship and Presidential elections.
- “We are going into 2027 with one clear objective: victory. We will work to ensure that our candidates receive the support they deserve across Central, from the State Assembly to the National Assembly, the Governorship and the Presidency,” Bassey declared.
He, however, noted that achieving the objective would require collaboration among political actors, community stakeholders and the electorate.
The candidates adopted by Voice of Central include **President Bola Ahmed Tinubu** for the Presidency and **Governor Prince Bassey Edet Otu** for the Cross River State governorship.
The group also adopted **Hon. Oden Ewa** for the Central Senatorial District, alongside candidates for the three Federal Constituencies and the various State Constituencies across the district.
The development comes against the backdrop of increasing political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 elections, with political parties and support groups already positioning themselves for the contest.
With its extensive grassroots structure, Voice of Central says it is positioning itself to play a major role in determining the political direction of Central Cross River in 2027.
For the group, the unveiling of its preferred candidates is not the end of the process but the beginning of a broader grassroots mobilisation campaign aimed at taking its message directly to voters across the district.
Candidates Adopted
The candidates unveiled by Voice of Central include:
Bola Ahmed Tinubu — President
Prince Edet Otu — Governor, Cross River State
Mr. Richard Romanu — Obubra II State Constituency
Hon. John Otu — Boki II State Constituency
Hon. Esther Bepeh — Yakurr II State Constituency
TPL Ernest Obasse — Obubra I State Constituency
Hon. Oden Ewa — Senate, Cross River Central
Hon. Victor Abang — Boki/Ikom Federal Constituency
Rt. Hon. John Gaul Lebo — Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency
Hon. Blessing Egbara — Etung/Obubra Federal Constituency
Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem — Ikom II State Constituency
Hon. Cyril James Omini — Yakurr I State Constituency
Hon. Samuel Neji Abaji — Ikom II State Constituency
Hon. Bette Philip Obi — Boki I State Constituency
Hon. Joseph Ukata — Abi State Constituency
Dr. Erim Agbor — Etung II State Constituency
As the political contest gradually intensifies, the strength of the various political structures and their ability to translate grassroots presence into actual electoral support will be tested when voters eventually head to the polls
0 comments: