The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has challenged the people of Cross River State to surpass their previous voting records by turning out in overwhelming numbers to re-elect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office in the January 2027 presidential election.
Yilwatda made the call at the presidential campaign rally held in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, where he joined the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, and other eminent APC leaders and stakeholders to mobilise support for the President.
The APC National Chairman commended the people of Cross River State for their impressive turnout and warm reception, describing their enthusiasm as a demonstration of the growing support for President Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He, however, urged the electorate to translate the enthusiasm witnessed at the rally into votes, stressing that the 2027 election presents an opportunity for Cross River State to strengthen its place in Nigeria’s political and economic future.
Professor Yilwatda noted that Cross River State is strategically positioned to become a major hub of economic transformation under the Tinubu administration, given its geographical advantages, commercial potential and maritime opportunities.
He explained that the Federal Government’s infrastructure development agenda, particularly the revival of rail transportation, the development of seaports and the proposed nationwide superhighway network, holds enormous prospects for Cross River State and the wider South-South region.
According to him, these initiatives are designed to connect markets, facilitate the movement of goods and people, reduce transportation costs, stimulate investment and create employment opportunities across the country.
“For Cross River State, the opportunities are enormous. An efficient rail network will improve the movement of people and goods, while functional seaports can expand maritime commerce, create jobs and open new opportunities for businesses. A modern highway network will further connect ports, production centres and commercial cities, integrating the state more effectively into Nigeria’s expanding economic landscape,” he said.
The APC National Chairman stressed that infrastructure development remains a critical component of President Tinubu’s economic reform agenda, noting that improved connectivity would enable states to harness their comparative advantages, attract private investment and contribute more substantially to national development.
He urged the people of Cross River State to look beyond the immediate excitement of political campaigns and consider the long-term benefits of continuity, infrastructure investment and economic reforms.
Yilwatda further called on APC members, party leaders, traditional institutions, community stakeholders, youths and women to intensify grassroots mobilisation and ensure that the party’s message reaches every ward and community across the state.
He emphasised that the task ahead requires unity, effective organisation and sustained engagement with the electorate, adding that the APC is determined to consolidate its national political strength through a campaign anchored on its record, policies and vision for Nigeria.
The National Chairman expressed confidence that Cross River State would play a significant role in the APC’s 2027 electoral victory, urging residents to seize the opportunity to support the continuation of President Tinubu’s administration.
He maintained that a renewed mandate would provide the government with the opportunity to deepen ongoing reforms, accelerate infrastructure delivery and expand the economic opportunities available to Nigerians.
The APC, therefore, called on the people of Cross River State to convert the massive enthusiasm demonstrated at the Calabar rally into a decisive electoral statement in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda in 2027.
