The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has urged the people of Cross River State to go beyond their previous voting records and turn out in large numbers to re-elect President Bola Tinubu for a second term in the January 2027 presidential election.
Yilwatda made the appeal at the presidential campaign rally in Calabar, the state capital, where he was joined by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima and other senior APC leaders and stakeholders mobilising support for the President.
He thanked the people of Cross River for their impressive turnout and warm reception, describing their enthusiasm as proof of growing support for Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda.
In a statement on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, the APC Chair added that the crowd’s energy must now become votes, noting that the 2027 election offers the state a chance to strengthen its place in Nigeria’s political and economic future.
According to the party chairman, Cross River is strategically placed to become a major centre of economic transformation under the Tinubu administration, thanks to its geographical advantages, commercial potential and maritime opportunities.
He said the Federal Government’s infrastructure agenda, especially the revival of rail transportation, the development of seaports and the proposed nationwide superhighway network, holds enormous prospects for the state and the wider South-South region.
These projects, he explained, are meant to connect markets, ease the movement of goods and people, lower transportation costs, attract investment and create jobs 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.
Yilwatda stressed that infrastructure is a critical part of the President’s economic reform agenda, noting that better connectivity would help states make use of their comparative advantages, attract private investment and contribute more to national development.
He asked residents to look past the excitement of campaign season and consider the long-term benefits of continuity, infrastructure investment and economic reforms.
The chairman also urged party members, leaders, traditional institutions, community stakeholders, youths and women to step up grassroots mobilisation so that the party’s message reaches every ward and community in the state.
He said success would require unity, effective organisation and sustained engagement with voters, adding that the APC is committed to consolidating its national political strength through a campaign built on its record, policies and vision for Nigeria.
Yilwatda expressed confidence that Cross River would play a significant role in the party’s 2027 victory and encouraged residents to seize the opportunity to back the continuation of the Tinubu administration.
He said a renewed mandate would allow the government to deepen reforms, speed up infrastructure delivery and widen economic opportunities for Nigerians.
The APC called on the people of Cross River State to turn the enthusiasm shown at the Calabar rally into a decisive vote for President Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda in 2027.
