The Leader of the 10th Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Francis Asuquo Ekpenyong, has dismissed reports portraying him as an aggrieved lawmaker opposed to Governor Bassey Edet Otu, reaffirming his commitment to the governor and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.
Ekpenyong, in a rejoinder, described the report as misleading, insisting that his participation in a meeting with the leadership of Relax Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria in Abuja was not intended to undermine the governor or the party's electoral prospects.
He explained that he and his deputy, Rt. Hon. Dr Davies Etta, used the meeting to clarify misconceptions arising from an earlier engagement involving some lawmakers, stressing that neither of them harboured grievances against the governor.
According to him, decisions concerning party tickets and political opportunities fall within the authority of the party's leadership and should not be interpreted as grounds for disloyalty or political opposition.
The Assembly leader noted that he was serving his second term and had never considered a third term an entitlement, adding that his emergence as leader of the 10th Assembly was made possible through the support and confidence of Governor Otu.
Ekpenyong said he remained grateful for the opportunity to lead the legislature and could not understand why his participation in a political support group meeting would be interpreted as evidence of hostility towards the same governor who had supported his political journey.
He further disclosed that he had held an extensive and productive meeting with Governor Otu a day before the engagement with Relax Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria, questioning how such constructive discussions could suddenly be followed by claims that he had become an opponent of the governor.
The lawmaker also cited his longstanding relationship with the governor, noting that they hail from the same local government area and that their communities are neighbours. He added that the governor's wife is his aunt, describing the suggestion that he was working against Otu as particularly unfortunate given their family and political ties.
Beyond these relationships, Ekpenyong pointed to development projects facilitated in his constituency under the governor's People First administration as further evidence of his continued support for Otu's leadership and second term ambition.
Among the projects he listed were a newly constructed town hall at Atan Okoyong, the rehabilitation of a primary school at Akani Obio Okoyong and the construction of another primary school at Ikot Ebiti.
He also highlighted the rehabilitation of a previously nonfunctional borehole that had been in existence for 15 years, with an upgrade to solar powered operation and water reticulation to different parts of the community.
Other projects, according to him, include solar powered boreholes at Atan Okoyong, Coffee Adiabo Ikot Otu, also known as Tinapa, and Ediong, alongside other community development initiatives aligned with the governor's People First agenda.
The Assembly leader said the projects had improved access to essential amenities in his constituency, questioning why he would oppose the governor's second term bid after benefiting from such support and facilitating development for his people.
“After being made a record breaking House of Assembly member, I wonder how I will now be termed aggrieved?” he queried.
Ekpenyong maintained that the meeting with Relax Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria was intended to explore opportunities for participation in the movement's national structure and contribute to its mobilisation activities, rather than serve as a platform for political conspiracy against the governor.
He therefore urged journalists and members of the public to verify information before drawing conclusions, warning that misrepresentations could create unnecessary divisions within the APC.
The lawmaker pledged to mobilise support for the party across his polling unit, ward and local government area, expressing confidence in the APC's ability to secure victory in the forthcoming elections.
“For the avoidance of doubt, my position is clear. I support Governor Bassey Edet Otu, the leadership of the APC in Cross River State and all APC candidates. I have neither pledged to work against the governor nor participated in any arrangement to undermine the party's electoral fortunes,” he stated.
He reaffirmed his commitment to party unity, the political progress of Cross River State and the electoral success of the APC, promising to work towards a 5/5 victory for the party across the relevant electoral contests.
The rejoinder was signed by Rt. Hon. Francis Asuquo Ekpenyong, Leader of the 10th Cross River State House of Assembly.
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