Contrary to expectations that Senator Bassey Otu will have a walk-in-the-park re-election victory, the emergence of strong opponents from other political parties has signaled a fierce battle ahead.
The governor will now be facing opponents from within and outside his APC enclave.There is also a possibility that votes from the north would split against him, with the coming of John Upan Odey, under the NDC, from the northern senatorial district.
Before now, two contenders from the south had emerged-Edem Ekong and Arthur Jarvis.Odey said in an interview on Wednesday night that he decided to join the race as a patriotic move to end what he called years of development stagnation in the state.
When asked why he chose to run when it was not the turn of his senatorial district, he said he was not aware of the existence of zoning of the office by his political party.
According to him, the office had been contested for by people from all parts of the state during every election season.He lamented the delay in all sector of the state, including tourism and basic infrastructure, including the neglect of the education sector.
Odey particularly accused the governor of playing politics with the developmentof the state. He expressed sadness that till date, Boki people could not access their communities from any part of the state as there was no access road.
He said “today, I picked up my expression of interest form of the Nigeria Democratic Congress NDC to contest and win the 2027 gubernatorial elections in our beloved state Cross River.” I do not come from the north, south, east or west of our state. I come representing a brand new politic of service to our people.”
