No fewer than five members currently serving at the National Assembly from Cross River State lost their return bid to the Green and Red Chambers following the conclusion of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the primaries for both chambers were conducted between Saturday and Monday.
NAN also reports that Cross River State has a total of 11 lawmakers in the National Assembly, with all the members from the same ruling APC.
The state has a total of eight representations in the House of Representatives, with the other three representing the South, Central, and Northern senatorial districts.
While the three senators won the APC tickets ahead of the 2027 general election, only three out of the eight House of Representatives aspirants seeking return were successful in their primaries.
The victorious members are the representatives of Calabar South/Akpabuyo/Bakassi Federal Constituency, Joseph Bassey; Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku Federal Constituency, Peter Akpanke; and Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency, Victor Abang.
NAN reports that the lawmakers that lost out are Emil Inyang, Biase/Akamkpa Federal Constituency); Bassey Akiba, Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency; Godwin Offiono, Yala/Ogoja Federal Constituency; and Mike Etaba, Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency.
However, Alex Egbona, who represented Yakurr/Abi Federal Constituency, defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) shortly before the APC primaries.
Similarly, the three senatorial districts had all of them emerging victorious from their respective primaries through affirmations.
NAN reports that the three senators pledged renewed commitment to the enthronement of democratic dividends to their respective senatorial districts when re-elected in 2027.
Senator Eteng Williams, Cross River Central Senatorial District, promised to prioritise human capital development as he seeks to return to the Red Chamber.
Williams disclosed that he had been able to facilitate foreign scholarships for 36 members of his district within the last three years of his stewardship.
He said: “I have sent over 36 people abroad to study.
“My priority is human capital development.
“That is why I am sending so many people abroad to study.”
On his part, Senator Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe, Cross River North Senatorial District, vowed to continue with his people oriented projects across the senatorial district when reelected in 2027.
Also, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, representing Cross River South Senatorial District, said he would continue with his deliberate choice of investing in young people, infrastructural development, as well as policies that would transform the district.
