Cross River: Coalition Urges Sen. Gershom Bassey to Challenge Gov Otu in 2027
By Bassey Bassey and Inemesit Friday
Political momentum is steadily building in Cross River State as concerned citizens and political actors across party lines intensify pressure on Senator Gershom Bassey to take up the challenge against the incumbent, Governor Bassey Otu, in the 2027 governorship race.
Whispers within political circles suggest that the former two term senator representing Cross River South may be weighing his options, a move that could significantly reshape the state’s political landscape if it materialises.
Popularly known as Gersh, Senator Bassey is widely regarded as one of the state’s “Three Wise Men” alongside Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke. The trio played defining roles in shaping Cross River’s political trajectory from 1999, with Duke and Imoke taking turns to lead the state while influencing governance direction and development priorities. For many observers, Bassey has long been seen as the natural heir to complete that political cycle.
He contested the governorship under the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the 2023 elections but lost the primaries to Sandy Onor.
Despite that setback, his political relevance has remained intact, with growing calls from Coalition For Gershon 2027, calling on him to re-enter the race.
Members of the Coalition for Gershom 2027, a cross party alliance of political stakeholders drawn from the PDP, ADC and APC, say the call for his candidacy is driven by the need to restore balance in governance.
Speaking, Comrade Bassey Ndiyo a spokesperson of the coalition, said: The state needs steady, experienced and focused leadership. Many stakeholders feel excluded from key decisions. But I can tell you that Senator Gershom Bassey has the experience and the reach to restore confidence.
"Our position is not rooted in partisanship but in what it describes as a growing disconnect between governance and public expectations. Governance is not delivering as expected. There is frustration across the state, and many believe leadership has become too concentrated in the hands of a few.”
According to Ndiyo, coalition members are exclusion from political appointments, limited stakeholder engagement in party structuring, and dissatisfaction with the processes that produced the current local government councils have deepened discontent.
“Decisions that affect the people are taken by a small circle,” said a coalition insider. “Many stakeholders, including members of the state executive council, feel sidelined.
“In many parts of the state, roads remain incomplete and in poor condition,”
A grassroots mobiliser of the Coalition, Onah John, said: “People are forced to find alternative routes or endure daily hardship. Government must reconnect with the realities on the ground.”
Another coalition member from Obubra, who identified himself as Austine Obeten, echoed similar frustrations. “We cannot continue like this,” he said during a recent community engagement. “It feels as though those in authority are far removed from what ordinary people face daily.”
Beyond infrastructure, the coalition also raised concerns about the state of the civil service. "Recruitment processes," according to its members, "have been uneven, with allegations of lack of transparency. Pensioners, they say, are grappling with outstanding gratuities while workers continue to bemoan the absence of a clear salary template.
“You cannot run an effective system when workers are uncertain about their entitlements,” said a coalition member who retired as a senior civil servant. “Morale is low, and that affects productivity.”
He continued “the state workforce has been grossly neglected,” said a member of the Coalition for Gershom 2027 who is also a senior civil servant and spoke on condition of anonymity. “During the last Christmas, civil servants at the state level received only ten thousand naira as a festive package. Their counterparts in Ebonyi State received one hundred and fifty thousand naira each, workers in Rivers State got eighty thousand naira, while those in Akwa Ibom State were paid a thirteenth month salary.
“Ironically, political appointees such as personal assistants and special assistants received between three hundred thousand and five hundred thousand naira, while others got payments running into millions. Yet the same government projects itself as one rooted in moral values. This is a clear case of injustice and discrimination.”
The coalition further alleged imbalance in political appointments and the distribution of resources to Ministries, Departments and Agencies, warning that such practices could undermine unity within the state.
“It creates division when people feel excluded,” the civil servant added. “Equity and fairness are essential for stability.”
Coalition members also expressed concern over what they described as the concentration of decision making within a close inner circle around the governor, which they claim is characterised by competing interests. According to them, this has slowed policy implementation across key sectors such as health, education and public works.
For Senator Gershom Bassey, the moment presents both an opportunity and a test. Coalition members describe him as a seasoned political actor with a deep understanding of the state’s governance structure and dynamics.
“He has the pedigree and the experience,” said a prominent member of the coalition. “He understands the terrain and the issues. If he decides to run, he will be a formidable contender.”
However, the coalition acknowledges that the road to 2027 will require careful navigation of political alliances and internal dynamics.
“Politics in Cross River is complex,” said another coalition strategist. “Even a strong candidate must proceed with caution. The opposition is gaining momentum, but the incumbent also has the advantage of structure.”
Despite these challenges, the coalition disclosed that consultations are intensifying. Meetings, stakeholder engagements and strategic discussions are ongoing, pointing to early preparations for the next electoral cycle.
For many citizens aligned with the coalition, the focus remains on governance outcomes rather than political rhetoric.
“We want leadership that delivers,” said a trader and coalition supporter in Calabar. “Good roads, functional schools and reliable healthcare are what matter to ordinary people.”
Coalition members also believe Senator Bassey’s experience from the 2023 governorship primaries has strengthened his political base and broadened his reach.
“He learned important lessons from that process,” said a coalition strategist. “With the current mood in the state, those lessons could become an advantage.”
As 2027 approaches, political pressure, public expectations and governance concerns continue to converge. Senator Gershom Bassey remains at the centre of this unfolding narrative, with the Coalition for Gershom 2027 positioning him as a potential rallying point for change.
Whether he will accept the challenge remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the political climate in Cross River State is evolving, and scrutiny of the current administration is intensifying.
“The tide is changing,” a coalition insider said. “If Senator Bassey steps forward, he can channel the growing discontent into a defining political moment for the state.”
The coming months will determine whether Cross River witnesses a contest shaped by experience, legacy and accountability. For now, attention remains fixed on Senator Gershom Bassey, a figure many believe could alter the course of the 2027 governorship race while maintaining the zoning balance, given that he, like Governor Otu, hails from the southern district.
HE BEAGLE NEWS tried to reach out to Sen Gershon Bassey on his mobile phone and he was not responding..
THE BEAGLE NEWS
