Cross River First Lady Encourages Women to Support APC Ahead of 2027 Elections

The First Lady of Cross River State, Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, has called on women in the state to stay loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the 2027 general elections approach. She made this appeal during a meeting with female political leaders and APC supporters on Sunday.

Otu emphasized the importance of unity among party members, urging them to set aside differences and work together. She warned that switching to another political party could mean starting over with new leaders and supporters. “Don’t abandon APC in 2027. You have to remain loyal to the party and mobilise support at the grassroots,” she said.

She linked the success of the party to the continuation of her husband’s administration, encouraging women to show their support through their votes. Otu stated, “If you don’t vote for me to go back there, you will not enjoy all this goodness.” She also highlighted her commitment to improving the welfare of residents, mentioning her medical outreach program that has conducted over 2,000 surgeries in three years.

Otu urged women to spread the APC’s message in their communities, including churches and markets, to ensure their efforts translate into votes. She said, “Whether you hate the person or not, we don’t care. But because the person has somehow found him or herself, we will vote him or her in.”

Dr. Betta Edu, Deputy Director of the APC Women Mobilisation Directorate, also spoke at the meeting. She challenged women to show their commitment through actual voting results rather than just words. Edu praised Otu for promoting women’s participation in politics and encouraged women to engage in door-to-door campaigns.

Edu set a target for women to mobilise between 100 and 200 votes in their polling units, stressing that their performance would reflect their commitment. She urged party members to resolve any personal conflicts, saying the time leading up to the election should focus on unity and mobilization.

Cross River State is a key area for the APC as it prepares for the upcoming elections, focusing on grassroots support and the involvement of women’s groups in their campaigns.