APC Primaries: Five Cross River Reps members lose return tickets

No fewer than five National Assembly members from Cross River State have failed to secure return tickets following the conclusion of the All Progressives Congress, APC, primaries in the state.

The primaries for both the Senate and House of Representatives were held between Saturday and Monday.

Cross River has 11 lawmakers in the National Assembly, comprising three senators and eight members of the House of Representatives. All were elected on the platform of the APC.

While the three senators from the state secured their return tickets, only three of the eight House of Representatives members seeking re-election survived the primaries.

The three House members who won their return tickets are Joseph Bassey, representing Calabar South/Akpabuyo/Bakassi Federal Constituency; Peter Akpanke, representing Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku Federal Constituency; and Victor Abang, representing Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency.

Those who lost their return bids include Emil Inyang of Biase/Akamkpa Federal Constituency, Bassey Akiba of Calabar Municipality/Odukpani, Godwin Offiono of Yala/Ogoja, and Mike Etaba of Obubra/Etung.

Another lawmaker, Alex Egbona, who represented Yakurr/Abi Federal Constituency, had defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, shortly before the APC primaries.

In the Senate race, the three serving senators from the state emerged victorious through affirmation.

They are Eteng Williams of Cross River Central, Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe of Cross River North and Asuquo Ekpenyong of Cross River South.

Speaking after the exercise, the senators pledged renewed commitment to delivering democratic dividends to their constituents if re-elected in 2027.

Williams said he would continue to prioritise human capital development, adding that he had facilitated foreign scholarships for 36 members of his constituency in the last three years.

“I have sent over 36 people abroad to study. My priority is human capital development. That is why I am sending so many people abroad to study,” he said.

Jarigbe also promised to sustain what he described as people-oriented projects across Cross River North.

Ekpenyong, on his part, said he would continue to invest in young people, infrastructure and policies that would transform Cross River South.