CENTRAL SENATORIAL APC-PWDs LEADERS ENDORSE GOV. BASSEY OTU AND SEN. ETENG JONAH WILLIAMS FOR SECOND TERM

• Call for Urgent Establishment of Cross River State Disability Rights Commission in Line with CRS Law No. 11 of 2021

Cross River State, Nigeria—Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) from the Central Senatorial District have thrown their full support behind Governor Sen. Prince Bassey Otu for a second term in office ahead of the 2027 elections. They are joined by Senator Eteng Jonah Williams, the Senator representing the central senatorial district in the red chambers in Abuja.  

In a unified declaration, the coalition applauded Governor Otu’s peace-driven leadership, his commitment to infrastructure renewal, and his role in fostering political stability across the state. They hailed his administration’s “People’s First Agenda” as a beacon of hope, emphasizing its impact on socio-economic growth and the unity of CRS.

“Your simplicity, infrastructural drive, and peaceful leadership have rekindled hope in Cross River State,” said Job Napoleon Agbor (popularly known as Hurricane), APC stalwart and PWD leader from Etung LGA.

In unison, they also affirm the obvious performance of the senator representing the Central Senatorial district at the National Assembly – Dist. Sen. Eteng Jonah Williams for his good representation, open-door policy, humility and infrastructural drive in all the wards of the Central Senatorial District of Cross River State.

While praising the Governor’s performance, the coalition issued a passionate appeal for the urgent activation of the Cross River State Disability Rights Commission, as provided by CRS Disability Law No. 11 of 2021, enacted under the leadership of former Governor H.E. Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade.

Despite being the first South-South state to enact such a landmark law, the absence of a functional Commission has hindered the full realization of the rights and protections promised to persons with disabilities.

The coalition outlined key demands, urging Governor Otu to:

• Establish the CRS Disability Rights Commission to enforce equitable access to education, healthcare, and employment;
• Appoint qualified, trainable and committed PWD representatives to governance structures;
• Align state policies with global disability inclusion standards, as set by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which Nigeria signed and ratified on March 30^th 2007 and 24^th September 2010, respectively and the Africa disability Protocol Charter that was ratified by President Tinubu on 30^th October 2023.

“Governor Otu has a historic chance to cement his legacy as Nigeria’s most disability-inclusive leader,” Napoleon added. “Establishing this Commission will showcase Cross River as a national model for inclusive governance.”

The PWD community, which represents a significant and organized voting bloc, has pledged to mobilize statewide support for the Governor’s re-election campaign. However, they stressed that “actions speak louder than endorsements,” calling for the Commission’s operationalisation before the end of his first term.

They also call on Dist. Sen Eteng Jonah Williams to appoint a PWD as a Liaison Officer to coordinate and liaise between him and our vast population in the central senatorial district, which is a force to reckon with in the coming 2027 general elections.

“We are proud of Governor Otu’s achievements, but history will judge us not just by infrastructure, but by how we uplift the marginalized,” Napoleon stated. “Let Cross River State truly become the ‘People’s First’ State by leaving no one behind.”

The coalition emphasized that the 2021 Disability Law must not remain a symbolic gesture, describing it as a “paper tiger” without an implementing body. They expressed confidence in Governor Otu’s political will to transform legal mandates into lived realities.

Endorsed by:

Job Napoleon Agbor (Hurricane)-APC PWDS Support Network, South-South Zonal Coordinator

Comrade Ignatius Bision Omang – State coordinator, CRS APC PWDS Support Network

Central Senatorial District APC PWDS Support Network Leaders:

1. Iyeme Eze Eyo – Abi LGA Chapter Coordinator, APC Membership Number- CR/TGD/01/09019, Voter’s card Number

• Mbang Otu Mbang -Yakurr LGA Chapter Coordinator, APC Membership Number – 05662, Voter’s card Number – 90F5B1244F4939788298,

• Igwut Araghe Igwut – Obubra LGA Chapter Coordinator, APC Membership Number – CR/BRA/13/00904, Voter’s card Number- 90F5B21607295362102  

• Agbor Martin Obi – Boki LGA Chapter Coordinator, APC Membership Number – CR/BJE/07/13301, Voter’s card Number- 90F5B12113295600087

• Agbor Febian Ayang – Ikom LGA Chapter Coordinator, APC Membership Number – 51401, Voter’s card Number-90F5B22E38295795913

• Manget Ferdinand Enu – Etung LGA Chapter Coordinator, APC Membership Number- CR/PPU/10/41500, and Voters Card Number- 90F5AFES7d518006502