241 candidates jostle for 36 seats in C’River

APC fields candidates for all positions; 43 women make final list

By Ike Uchechukwu, Calabar

CALABAR — A total of 241 candidates have been cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest 36 elective positions in Cross River State in the 2027 general elections.

Vanguard checks showed that the positions comprise the governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly seats.

INEC’s final list shows that eight candidates are contesting the governorship, 25 are vying for the three senatorial seats, 63 are seeking election to the eight House of Representatives seats, while 145 are contesting the 24 State House of Assembly seats.

Fourteen political parties are participating in the elections in the state, but only the All Progressives Congress (APC) fielded candidates for all 36 elective positions.

Of the 241 candidates, 198 are male, representing 82.2 per cent, while 43 are female, accounting for 17.8 per cent.

Calabar South State Constituency has the highest number of female contestants, with seven candidates.

The APC, African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) each fielded five female candidates.

The youngest candidate is 26-year-old Aboh Glady, who is contesting a State House of Assembly seat on the platform of the Action Alliance (AA).

The oldest candidates are 69-year-old Asuquo Asuquo and Francis Ukpanyang, both of the Action Democratic Party (ADP). Asuquo is contesting the Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency seat, while Ukpanyang is seeking election to represent Calabar South State Constituency.

Meanwhile, five members of the National Assembly representing Cross River State failed to secure their parties’ tickets to seek re-election in 2027.

The state has 11 representatives in the National Assembly, comprising three senators and eight members of the House of Representatives, all elected on the platform of the ruling APC.

Two of the three senators secured APC tickets for the 2027 elections, while only three of the eight House of Representatives members seeking re-election succeeded.

The lawmakers who secured tickets are Joseph Bassey of Calabar South/Akpabuyo/Bakassi Federal Constituency, Peter Akpanke of Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku Federal Constituency and Victor Abang of Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency.

Those who lost their bids are Emil Inyang of Biase/Akamkpa Federal Constituency, Bassey Akiba of Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency, Godwin Offiono of Yala/Ogoja Federal Constituency and Mike Etaba of Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency.

Alex Egbona, who represented Yakurr/Abi Federal Constituency, defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) shortly before the APC primaries.