By Emmanuel Oloniruha
A political group, Coalition of Peoples Democratic Party Support Groups in Cross River State, has urged the party national leadership to put its house in order, to reclaim power in 2027.
The group Coordinator, Mr Michael Ekamon, made the call at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja.
Ekamon advised the party national leadership to forge a cohesive front, assuring the party of the group readiness to mobilise and galvanise support to ensure its victory in the coming elections.
“We have already started the search for a credible, competent, reliable, and dependable and people oriented individual(s) at all levels of governance.
“Individuals that will not betray the trust of the people and that of our party after election victory as we are sure of overwhelming victory come 2027,’’the group said.
Ekamon said there were clear opportunities for the PDP to reclaim power in Cross River, but it required unity, and unanimity of purpose at the national level to achieve that.
He noted that the recent defection of a PDP lawmaker to the All Progressives Congress (APC) served as a wake-up call that disunity weakens the cause of the opposition party.
He urged the party leaders, members and stakeholders to be united and take advantage of what he described as low performance of the incumbent, Gov. Bassey Otu-led administration to reclaim Cross River.
He said that available data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and other credible sources show that the governor’s performances were below peoples’ expectations.
“In NBS data for 2024, Cross River is ranked 29th out of 36 States in primary school enrollment, with 62 per cent of eligible children attending school.
“This is well below the national average of 78 per cent. Also, teacher-to-student ratio stands at 1:45, exceeding the national benchmark of 1:30, while 40 per cent of schools lack basic amenities like water and toilets.
“Also in health, the NBS reports indicate that Cross River State has just 0.8 hospital beds per 1,000 people, compared to the national average of 1.2.
“The doctor-to-patient ratio is a shocking 1 to 5,000, a figure, far worse than the World Health Organisation’s recommended 1:600,’’he said.
He said that by the NBS figure, “the level of unemployment and poverty in the state in year 2025 were on the rise, while the revenue generated was far low when compares to neighbouring states.”
He added that in the area of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), the State in year 2024 generated just N18.5 billion, ranking 28th out of 36 states.
He noted that during the stated period, neighbouring states such as, Akwa Ibom generated N42.3 billion, while Rivers generated N172.8 billion.
He recalled that under previous PDP-led administrations by Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke, the state punched above its weight.
Ekamon urged all stakeholders, PDP members, community leaders, and citizens to join the group in returning the state to the path of progress.
“Together, with a united PDP, we can build a state that prioritises its people’s welfare and well-being over political egos and empty promises. Let this be the turning point,”he said.