A coalition group, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Support Group has issued a passionate plea to Senator Sandy Onoh and other stakeholders to rise to the occasion and lead the charge to end APC misrule in Cross River State.

Speaking at the press conference held in Abuja over the weekend, spokesperson of the group, Mike Ekanem said that the group is particularly disheartened at Governor Bassey Otu, whose recent actions have drawn public outrage. He condemned, in strong terms, the disruption of a scheduled Federal Government-backed Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) project commissioning in Calabar.

The coalition, which comprises various grassroots mobilization arms of the PDP, including the Presidential Support Group, Community Development Clusters, and Youth Fronts, unequivocally declared its readiness to wrestle power from the APC in 2027
The group emphasised the urgent need for a united and coordinated front by PDP leaders to rescue the state from further socio-economic and developmental decay under the current administration.

He said that such tendencies clearly expose the APC government in the state as lacking in strategic vision, maturity in governance, and commitment to progress.

“Cross River has become a shadow of itself under APC misrule, the people are groaning, infrastructure is decaying, federal interventions are being resisted for political reasons, and legislative representation is nothing short of a disaster,” he further said.

The Support Group also frowned at the economic performance of the state under Governor Bassey Otu’s administration noting that Cross Rivers State abysmal 34th ranking out of 36 states in Value Added Tax (VAT) remittances for Q1 2025 underscores the Otu’s administration’s economic shortcomings.

It said Cross River generated a paltry N2.86 billion in VAT, compared to much smaller states like Ekiti, Ondo and 20 others and attributed it to failure to stimulate economic activity, attract investments, or create a conducive environment for businesses.

It decried failure of the state under Governor to capitalize on its tourism and agricultural potential like previous administrations that leveraged on assets like the Obudu Cattle Ranch and utilization of the Calabar Carnival to stimulate the economy of the state.

The coalition further frowned at the governor’s lack of performance across critical sectors, including infrastructure, education, healthcare, and job creation. According to the group, no tangible democratic gains have reached the people of Cross River since Governor Otu took office, with many communities experiencing worsening hardship and government neglect.

It however expressed its resolve to ensure the total removal of APC influence in Cross River’s political landscape, targeting every seat the party currently holds in the Senate and House of Representatives.

“Our mission is clear – to restore competence, responsibility, and people-centered leadership at all levels. We are not just targeting the governorship; every APC lawmaker from Cross River is on notice,” the spokesperson added.