APC unveils winners of Cross River Assembly Primaries as 4 serving Lawmakers lose tickets

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially confirmed winners of its primaries conducted to select candidates for the National Assembly and State Assembly elections in Cross River State.

The results were presented on Friday night at the party secretariat in Calabar by the Chairman of the Cross River State APC Panel, Samuel Yarnap.

For the Central Senatorial District, Yanap disclosed that Oden Ewa won the ticket after pulling 24,483 votes, followed by Senator Eteng Williams with 2,080 votes, while Mary Ekpere came third with 1,164 votes.

He also clarified that, contrary to reports, Oden Ewa was not disqualified, “He received confirmation from the APC national chairman and the organizing secretary regarding his eligibility,” Yarnap maintained.

In the House of Representatives primaries, four new aspirants secured the party’s tickets.

For Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency, former Calabar Municipality council chairman, Nta Eke ousted incumbent Bassey Akiba, with 8,707 votes.

Akiba, who was initially elected on the platform of the Labour Party, dumped the party for the APC but failed to secure the House of Representatives ticket to re-contest in 2027 polls on the APC platform.

Other new winners include Stella Odey, a former commissioner for Local Government Affairs under the immediate Past administration of Prof Ben Ayade, who defeated incumbent Godwin Offiono with 10,708 votes in Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency.

Others include Okpor Ngim, who defeated Dr. Emil Inyang an incumbent Reps member, with 9,351 votes in Akamkpa/Biase; and Dr Blessing Egbara, former commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs under Ben Ayade, defeated incumbent Mike Etaba with 7,609 votes to secure the Obubra/Etung ticket.

Former speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, John Gaul Lebo, also emerged victorious with 11,466 votes to win the Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency ticket.

The seat became vacant after incumbent Alex Egbona defected from the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party, where he secured the PDP ticket.

Several serving lawmakers secured return tickets to the National Assembly. Senator Jarigbe Agom of Cross River North polled 31,404 votes, while Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong of the Southern District emerged unopposed with 42,943 votes.

In the House, Victor Abang of Ikom/Boki won with 10,850 votes, Peter Akpanke of Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku had 14,252 votes, and Joseph Bassey of Calabar South/Bakassi/Akpabuyo secured 10,007 votes.

Yarnap also announced winners for the 25 House of Assembly seats in the state. Principal officers of the Assembly retained their tickets, including Speaker Elvert Ayambem  who secured ticket to represent the people of Ikom two Constituency and Deputy Speaker Sylvester Agabi.