C’River APC youth group urges Otu to resolve party crisis
May 14, 2026 2:10 pm
FILE: Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu
By Emem Julius
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Youth leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Cross River State have appealed to Governor Bassey Otu to intervene in the growing internal crisis rocking the party in the Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The youths, under the umbrella of the Akamkpa/Biase Youth Movement, made the appeal during a meeting held in Calabar on Wednesday, warning that the lingering division within the party could weaken the APC’s chances in future elections if not urgently addressed.
The group also endorsed the member representing Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Onun Emil Inyang, for a second term in office.
Speaking on behalf of the youths, Daniel Enang from Ehom Ward said the party was experiencing an unprecedented level of division in the constituency, stressing that the development was already causing tension among party supporters and young people.
He said, “We are concerned about the growing division in the party, especially in our federal constituency. As youths, we are not ready to go into another election with this kind of division. It is tearing us apart and creating serious challenges for the party.”
Enang noted that many youths played active roles during the 2023 elections and contributed significantly to the APC’s victory across polling units in the constituency.
“Many youths played active roles during the 2023 elections and contributed significantly to the APC’s victory across polling units in the constituency,” he emphasised.
He commended Otu for what he described as impactful developmental projects across the state but urged him to use his position as leader of the party in the state to restore peace and unity within the constituency.
“On behalf of the youths, I commend Governor Bassey Otu for his impactful developmental projects across the state. But we want him to use his position as leader of the party in the state to restore peace and unity within the constituency,” Enang said.
The youth leader also threw his weight behind Inyang’s second-term ambition, describing the lawmaker as a performing representative who had delivered on several campaign promises.
“The federal lawmaker has executed projects in education, agriculture and infrastructure, including the installation of over 24 solar-powered boreholes in different communities,” Enang said.
He added that the lawmaker had facilitated empowerment programmes for hundreds of constituents in fisheries, agriculture and skills acquisition, with several beneficiaries receiving cash support to establish businesses.
Another speaker, Raphael Egwu from Erei North in Biase Local Government Area, described Inyang as a loyal APC member who had repeatedly sacrificed personal ambition for the interest of the party.
Egwu recalled that the lawmaker stepped down for other aspirants during previous election cycles to maintain peace and party unity before eventually securing the mandate of the people in 2023.
He argued that supporting Inyang for a second term would preserve the existing political understanding between Akamkpa and Biase, which he said was based on fairness and equity.
The youths called on APC stakeholders in the state to unite behind the lawmaker and resolve internal disagreements ahead of the next election cycle.
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