Says the problems of Boki/Ikom and Etung/Obubra federal constituencies are very peculiar.
By Frank Ulom
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Published on September 29, 2026
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3 min read
Former Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, has called on political stakeholders across Ikom, Boki, Obubra, and Etung (IBOE) to unite and adopt targeted political strategies to safeguard the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River Central Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking as Chairman of the Occasion during the IBOE Special Dinner and Strategic Engagement with Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Edet Otu, held on Tuesday at Hogis Hotels in Calabar, on Tuesday, Ndoma-Egba emphasized the need for deep political consultation to address the unique political realities currently facing the district.
Addressing misconceptions surrounding the gathering, he clarified that the meeting was neither driven by ulterior motives nor designed to advance personal ambitions, but rather born out of necessity to confront emerging political challenges in the district.
“The problems of Boki/Ikom and Etung/Obubra federal constituencies are very peculiar. The political problems are peculiar,” Ndoma-Egba stressed, adding, “We have already entered a political season, and in this political season, no amount of consultation is too little or too much. Politics is about consultation, it’s about conversation, it’s about engagement.”
Highlighting the unique political climate of the area, the former Senate Leader pointed out that the central senatorial district now hosts high-profile opposition figures, including a presidential candidate whose presence cannot be taken for granted.
“In politics, you don’t take anything for granted. It is a major development, it is a significant development, and we, from these two constituencies that provide the immediate habitat – the immediate home of this threat – must respond to this development in a peculiar way,” he said, describing Ikom as the strategic hub for the surrounding LGAs. “When there is a headache in Boki, Etung, or Obubra, the effect is felt in Ikom.”
He appealed to Governor Otu to assist the district by deploying targeted development initiatives to reinforce the ruling party’s foothold ahead of the election campaigns.
“We’ll be using this occasion to appeal to His Excellency, the Governor, to make things easier for us, especially during this period of campaign, by introducing some emergency projects in Ikom, Boki, Etung, and Obubra. These projects will make our campaigns easier and more convenient,” he urged.
Despite the growing presence of opposition figures, the former lawmaker reiterated the unwavering commitment of the IBOE bloc to the ruling party and the continued alignment of the state with the federal government.
“We in Ikom, Boki, Etung, and Obubra are committed to the return of Governor Bassey Otu in 2027. We are also committed to the re-election of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in 2027,” Ndoma-Egba affirmed. “Our survival as a minority people is in that big umbrella called the Federal Republic of Nigeria, so we must remain connected to the center.”
The strategic dinner, which served as a precursor to a planned broader summit of the entire Central Senatorial District, concluded with scheduled formal motions for the endorsement of Governor Otu and President Tinubu for second terms in 2027.
