C' River State APC Support Group Council Pay Solidarity Visit On Party Chairman, Promises Collaboration With Leadership
By Judex OKORO
Cross River State APC Support Group Council has paid a courtesy visit on the party Chairman, Hom. Chris Eta, to formally introduce the Council ahead of electioneering.
The visit, which took place at the party secretariat along Murtala Mohammed Highway and led by the Chairman, Hon. Chief Boniface Okache, was aimed at fostering administrative collaboration between the party leadership and support groups across the state.
The visit also marks a significant step in unifying support structures across the 18 LGAs and the 3 senatorial districts of Cross River state under one formidable platform.
Speaking on behalf of the Council, the chairman and Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Chief Boniface Okache, said this is the first time Cross River APC Support Group Council to be inaugurated and it is a novelty.
The Council also reaffirmed its commitment to building grassroots' support base and project the programmes and achievements of the Otu's administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Okache said: "Yes, APC has so many support groups in the state. But after the 2027 election and interfacing with all the support groups, we decided to see how we can float a coordinating body.
So, we all agreed to be under one body as a governing Council.
"It comprises all the support group in the party. This body will coordinate all units and regulate all support groups' activities and possibly give directions to all groups.
"We are a Council that will assist the government, the party and other relevant groups to control and coordinate the activities during electioneering. We also resolved in the Council to assist in the formation of all stakeholders. We offer ourselves to see how we can work with you."
Responding, the Cross River State chairman of APC, Hon. Chris Eta, commended the Council for their initiative, advising them to proactive and operate within the confines of party guidelines with regard to electioneering.
Eta said: "We have had all manners of support groups trying to claim authorities. We have over 3,000 groups. Everybody wants to be a leader. All these groups are a result of splits within leadership. They see it as a vehicle to getting patronage and recognition.
"We shall redeploy all groups to their local government areas and embark on door-door campaigns. We want to engage the people this time instead of talking to ourselves. We don't need a robust campaign structures for now but rather a smaller structure that targets the real people.
"So every support group must be coordinated by the Council and take track of records of them for effective delivery. There is no longer going to be roaming around the streets.
"We want to get down to works. We need to think outside the box and come up with those catchy words that can endear people to us. We need organic campaign structure."
The party Chairman advised the members of the Council to be open and coordinated with a view to selling the party at the grassroots and ensuring victory for APC in 2027 general elections
He added, "the cake is large but we can all be party of it by being conscientious, committed and hardworking. Everybody must be active, get down to polling units and bring in at least one person into the voting net for the party."
Earlier, the group had paid a similar courtesy visit on the Chief of Staff, Chief Emmanuel Ironbar, pledging total support and loyalty to the "People First" agenda of His Excellency, Sen. Dr. Prince Prince Bassey Edet Otu.
Ironbar had, however, enjoined the group to uphold transparency and accountability in all its dealings, emphasising that the Governor is known for integrity, stating that every form of support given to groups must get to the intended beneficiaries without diversion.
This Council is composed of distinguished men and women of proven integrity, unquestionable loyalty, and vast experience in mobilisation and support group coordination.
The CRS APC Support Groups Council is midwife by the office of Special Adviser and Special Assistant to Governor on Support Groups Matters,
Pastor Joseph Bassey Eno and Elder Clement Asanye , respectively .
Council officials include Dr. Edem Ebong, Vice Chairman, Pastor Bright Ewona,Ph.D, Secretary, Archbishop Prof Margaret Ene-Ita, Women Leader, Chief Dr Mathias Ake - Media & Publicity Secretary, Elder Victor Antigha, Treasurer, Hon. Comr. Iso Bassey, Org. Sec, Hon. Dunamis Archibong - Coordinator South, Hon Ndifon Ekok Ojogu, Coordinator Central, Dr. Prince Charles Ushie, Coordinator North and Prince Ndep Sunday Ebam, Youth Leader.
Others are Dr. Michael Abuo, Director Security, TPL Chief Alex Edem, Financial Sec, Mrs. Doris Emmanuel Ogban, Ph.D, Welfare Sec, Prof John Shiyam, Adviser, Sir Dr Thompson Bai, Adviser, Dr. Mrs Theresa Nkim Omang, Asst. Woman Leader, Hon. Glory Awowo, Asst. Woman Leader 11, Mr. Fabian Patrick, Asst. Youths Leader 1, Mr. Bulem Atambi, Asst. Youths Leader 11 and Pastor Clement Ogar, Spiritual Matters.
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