GOVERNORS Bassey Otu and Caleb Mutfwang have emerged as the governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress in Cross River and Plateau states respectively ahead of the 2027 general elections.
News Point Nigeria reports that Otu was officially declared winner of the APC governorship primary election in Cross River State after polling 116,038 votes across 196 wards in the state’s 18 local government areas.
Chairman of the Cross River APC Primary Election Committee, Mr Samuel Yarnap, announced the result at the party’s state secretariat in Calabar on Friday.
According to Yarnap, Governor Otu, who contested unopposed, secured victory in what party officials described as a peaceful and orderly exercise.
He commended party faithful for the conduct of the governorship, National Assembly and state constituency primaries held across the state.
“I am not surprised the primaries were peaceful, as it was the same during the congresses,” Yarnap said.
“All primaries were successful and peaceful. Other states had crises, but Cross River had none. I appreciate your cooperation. Aggrieved members will support winners, and winners must remember they represent the people,” he added.
Reacting to his emergence, Otu appealed to aggrieved aspirants and party members to accept the outcome of the exercise and work together for the unity and progress of the state and the party.
“I appeal to aggrieved members and the party, let us come together; there is enough room for everyone,” the governor said.
“My commitment is to move the state forward without fear or favour,” he added.
News Point Nigeria reports that the committee also released results for the state constituency and National Assembly primaries in Cross River.
The exercise was widely described by party officials as peaceful and orderly, a development many believe reflects improved internal cohesion within the APC ahead of future elections.
Meanwhile, in Plateau State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang emerged as the APC governorship candidate after securing the highest number of votes in the party’s primary election.
Chairman of the election committee in the state, Mr Fidelis Mnyim, declared Mutfwang winner on Friday in Jos.
According to Mnyim, the governor polled 233,335 votes to defeat his rival, retired Commodore Yilchini Bida, who secured 3,070 votes.
“As the chairman of this committee, I wish to declare that Caleb Mutfwang, having scored the highest votes and satisfied the requirements of APC constitution, as the winner of the primary,” Mnyim stated.
“Therefore, he is returned as the elected governorship candidate for Plateau in the 2027 general elections,” he added.