By Kelvin Ololo
The 2027 governorship contest in Cross River State is beginning to take clearer shape, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) releasing details of 12 candidates seeking the governorship ticket of different political parties, including incumbent Governor Bassey Otu.
The details were displayed on Monday at the INEC headquarters along the Murtala Mohammed Highway, Calabar, drawing the attention of residents and prospective voters who trooped to the commission’s office to inspect the documents.
Among the candidates whose particulars were released are candidates from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Labour Party (LP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Alliance (AA) and Action Peoples Party (APP).
The incumbent governor, Bassey Otu, is listed as the candidate of the APC. The 66-year-old, whose birthplace is listed as Adiabo Okurikang, and described as a farmer.
For the PDP, Archibong Arthur Javis, 64, is listed. He was born in Calabar and is described as a proprietor, founder and chancellor.
The ADC has Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo, 67, a legal practitioner and diplomat whose birthplace is listed as Zaria. Toyo is one of the prominent women whose entry has added another dimension to the governorship contest.
Odey John Upan, 48, a banker born in Obudu, is listed for the NDC, while the NNPP has Okon Ita Festus, 53, who is described as a businessman.
The SDP candidate is Akpanke Fidelis Ashibeshibe, 46, a businessman whose birthplace is listed as Ikom.
The Labour Party has Obu Ogar Osim, 49, a media practitioner from Yala Nkum, while Joylyne Ita Hogan-Bassey, 39, a businesswoman from Calabar South, is listed as the ADP candidate.
Also listed is Chigbe Chioma Vivian, 46, a businesswoman from Uba, representing the NRM.
The APM has Esege Ntami Nkanu, 46, a businesswoman from Ogoja, while Ali Patrick, 58, a businessman from Ogoja, is listed for the AA.
For the APP, Nya Basil Bassey, 35, a civil engineer from Calabar, is listed as the party’s flag bearer.
The list presents a contest involving an incumbent governor and challengers drawn from politics, business, law, diplomacy, banking, media and engineering.
It also places women in a visible position in the emerging race, with Nkoyo Toyo, Joylyne Ita Hogan-Bassey, Chigbe Chioma Vivian and Esege Ntami Nkanu listed among those seeking to govern the state. Their presence adds a notable gender dimension to a contest traditionally dominated by men.
An insider familiar with the process told CrossRiverWatch that the particulars of candidates seeking seats in the Senate, House of Representatives, Cross River State House of Assembly and councillorship positions were being released at their respective local government areas, rather than at the Calabar headquarters.
The release of the governorship particulars at the INEC office marks an important stage in the electoral process, opening the credentials of the candidates to public scrutiny as political activities ahead of the 2027 election gather momentum.
For Otu, the process presents the prospect of seeking another mandate, while the other candidates will be hoping to build enough political strength to challenge the incumbent in what is shaping up to be a broad and diverse governorship race.
With the field now containing established political figures, professionals, entrepreneurs, younger candidates and four women, the battle for the Peregrino Government House in Calabar is set to become one of the major political contests to watch in Cross River ahead of 2027.
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