Fresh political speculations surrounding the alleged adoption of consensus candidates for Federal and State Assembly positions in Cross River State have continued to generate reactions among party faithful, youths and stakeholders across the state.
Many observers believe that the growing talks of handpicking candidates ahead of the 2027 elections threaten internal democracy and could weaken the confidence of citizens in the political process.
Speaking as a concerned citizen from Boki Local Government Area, Pòspi Otuson expressed worry that politics in Cross River State appears to be drifting away from the principles of open participation, merit and fair competition.
According to him, democracy should never be reduced to rewarding loyal political allies while ignoring the wishes and aspirations of ordinary party members and constituents who deserve the right to freely choose their representatives through transparent primaries.
He noted that when candidates are allegedly selected behind closed doors, it sends a dangerous signal that the interests of a few political stakeholders matter more than the voices of the people.
“Many supporters and party members worked tirelessly believing that competence, popularity, capacity and grassroots acceptance would count in the selection process. Sadly, moves like these often leave people feeling used, ignored and politically displaced,” he stated.
The concern appears to be louder in the Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency where political tensions are gradually building over the future of the House of Representatives seat currently occupied by Hon. Victor Abang.
Across Boki communities, there are increasing calls on Governor Bassey Otu to resist any alleged attempt to impose candidates on the people of the constituency.
Political observers say the calls from Boki are becoming difficult to ignore, especially with growing dissatisfaction over what many describe as weak representation from the constituency in the last three years.
Several stakeholders argue that Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency has not fully felt the impact and weight of federal representation under Hon. Victor Abang, a development that has contributed to rising agitation for a new direction ahead of 2027.
This dissatisfaction was recently reflected in the endorsement and adoption of Hilary Bisong by youths from both Ikom and Boki Local Government Areas for the House of Representatives seat.
Rt. Hon. Hilary Bisong, a three-term member of the Cross River State House of Assembly, is widely regarded by many supporters as one of the strongest contenders for the Ikom/Boki House of Representatives position.
Supporters of Bisong argue that his legislative track record, constituency projects and political achievements surpass those of many lawmakers in the state’s legislative history. They insist that his popularity among grassroots youths and political stakeholders continues to grow across the federal constituency.
The development has now raised a major political question across the area: Will Governor Bassey Otu still handpick Victor Abang on behalf of the people of Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency despite growing opposition and calls for change?
Some political commentators believe that Hon. Victor Abang may now be depending heavily on political support from the state leadership amid concerns that he may have lost significant grassroots confidence among sections of the electorate.
At the same time, Governor Otu continues to face criticisms from some residents over alleged underperformance in key sectors including healthcare, infrastructure development and the economy.
Critics argue that rather than focusing on addressing pressing governance concerns affecting citizens, attention appears to be shifting toward securing political positions for loyal supporters ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Beyond the debate around Victor Abang and Hilary Bisong, there are also growing calls for the Ikom/Boki House of Representatives seat to be zoned to Boki I State Constituency for the sake of equity and fairness.
Stakeholders pushing this argument maintain that Boki I has remained politically sidelined for decades despite its contributions to the political development of the area.
They further argued that the only individual from the constituency who once occupied a federal political seat was removed after serving just one term of four years, a situation many still describe as unfair and politically unjust.
For this reason, several political voices are now advocating for the emergence of Joseph Bessong Enu, popularly known as Prince Joseph Bessong Enu, as part of efforts to ensure equity, inclusion and political balance within the federal constituency.
Observers say the coming months will determine whether the ruling APC in Cross River State embraces open democratic participation or continues along a path many critics believe favours political imposition over popular choice.
For many residents across Ikom and Boki, the central message remains clear, the people want the freedom to decide who represents them, not leaders allegedly chosen on their behalf behind closed doors.
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