As we approach the 2027 general elections, the ruling All Progressives Congress in Cross River State on paper, is the party to beat but with a robust opposition in the horizon, there is a compelling reason for the party leadership in the State to field popular electable candidates that will not only ensure victory for the party but attract huge votes for President Tinubu during the Presidential election.
Bearing this in mind, the choices made in the run up to the 2027 General Elections will determine whether the APC retains the trust of the people or slides into political rejection and irrelevance.
There is no doubt that the State’s contingent to the National Assembly has always been a critical factor in ensuring the party’s emphatic and decisive victories at the polls. This pattern will not change in 2027 and it is incumbent on the party leadership and members to choose popular candidates with the ground game to propel it to victory.
It is therefore with a deep sense of responsibility and urgency that I reject the potential nomination of Honourable Mike Etaba, currently representing Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, for a fourth term.
After almost twelve years of representing our people, he has not only failed in his core legislative duties but has also become a symbol of disconnection, underperformance and political entitlement. Granting him the party’s ticket again would be a profound misstep – one that could cost the party dearly at the polls and erode the goodwill it has painstakingly built over the years.
Representation is the bedrock of legislative service. A lawmaker is expected to be the voice of his people, to feel their pulse and to advocate for their needs at the national level. Unfortunately, Hon. Etaba has not lived up to this sacred duty; over the years, he has floated away from the people he is supposed to represent, becoming aloof and inaccessible.
As a constituent, I can state without equivocation that he does not answer phone calls, fails to hold town hall meetings to present his scorecard and is rarely seen in the constituency except during each election season. His absence has created a vacuum of leadership and trust.
In a democracy, representation is not a title – it is a duty and a public trust. A representative who disappears after elections and resurfaces only when another term is at stake betrays the very essence of public service. The people of Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency feel abandoned and their frustration is growing.
A review of Honourable Etaba’s legislative record reveals a disturbing pattern of inactivity. For almost twelve years he has no bill and motion to his name; this ultimate bench warmer has never contributed to any debate on the floor of the House.
The voice of Obubra/Etung has been totally missing. He is a lawmaker who has wilfully abdicated from his primary responsibility. Truth be told, whereas some lawmakers with the kind of abysmal record of Etaba try to mitigate this fatal impairment through a robust constituency engagement and empowerment back home, Honourable Mike Etaba prefers to be a runaway lawmaker, shying away from opportunities to engage with his constituents. Given the way he returned to undeserved second and third terms, the only thing Etaba cares about is ingratiating himself with the leadership of the State. To him, the people can go to hell so long as he gets the leadership of the state to do his bidding.
Hopefully, this infamous game plan that had served him so well will fail him this time around because the State currently has a People’s Governor who himself was one of the finest representatives of his people during his stint at the National Assembly. He will expect no less from his NASS members.
A lawmaker who cannot shape policy, influence national discourse, or hold the executive accountable is not just ineffective; he is a liability. At a time when Cross River State needs vibrant, intelligent, and courageous voices in Abuja, Etaba has offered silence and mediocrity.
One of the most visible ways lawmakers endear themselves to their people is through constituency projects, empowerment programmes and capacity building. These projects roads, schools, health centers, water projects and skill acquisition centers are lifelines for rural and urban communities but Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency under Etaba has seen little or no federal presence prompting constituents to consistently question where he channels the constituency projects appropriated for them running into billions.
Presently, there are no new roads, renovated schools and hospitals or health interventions attracted by his representation.
There are hardly any enduring youth or women empowerment schemes under his representation. Even when federal allocations were made for constituency projects, there is no evidence of implementation or impact. This level of neglect is not just disappointing, it is unacceptable.
In contrast, neighbouring constituencies have witnessed visible development, thanks to their proactive representatives. In the first year in the 10th Senate, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong Jr. sponsored six bills, five motions, delivered fifteen key empowerments and facilitated 136 projects including sixteen road works; Honourable Peter Akpanke representing Obanliku/Obudu/Bekwara is known for strong project execution and constituency empowerment. The people of Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency have taken note and their patience is wearing thin.
It is no secret that Honourable Etaba’s return to the House of Representatives for second and third terms was not based on merit or performance but on the patronage of powerful vested interests. While political support is part of the game, it becomes dangerous when it overrides the will of the people.
By repeatedly imposing a candidate who has lost touch with his base, we are sending a message that loyalty to power brokers matters more than service to the people. This breeds resentment and weakens our party’s democratic credentials. It also fuels internal dissent, as many party members feel sidelined and voiceless.
The people of Obubra and Etung are not just unhappy, they are angry. Across the constituency, there is a growing wave of resistance against Etaba’s potential fourth-term bid. Youth groups, women’s associations, traditional leaders, and even party local government executives have expressed their displeasure openly.More alarmingly, influential party members have threatened to quit the party if he is given the ticket again.
In a political climate where every vote counts, we cannot afford to lose our core supporters. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other opposition parties are already gaining ground and are ready to capitalize on our internal weaknesses. If we field a candidate who is widely rejected, we are handing them victory on a platter of gold.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State needs to field strong candidates in the 2027 elections that will not be business as usual. With new political alignments, increased voter awareness and a more competitive electoral environment, we cannot afford to field weak or unpopular candidates. Our party must present men and women of integrity, competence and connection to the grassroots.
Fielding Mike Etaba again would be a strategic blunder. It would demoralize our supporters, embolden the opposition and likely lead to a loss of the seat. In contrast, a fresh, dynamic and credible candidate chosen from among many qualified members of the party would energize the base, attract undecided voters and secure victory.
Our party has always prided itself on being a people’s party, a party that listens, that delivers and that evolves. To continue on that path, we must be willing to make tough decisions. We must retire politicians who have outlived their usefulness and embrace new blood.
The people of Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency deserve better. They deserve a representative who will fight for them, who will bring development home and who will be present and accountable. They deserve justice after twelve years of neglect and disastrous performance.
The signs are clear. The people are speaking. The opposition is watching. And history will judge us by the choices we make today. Let us not repeat the mistakes of the past. Let us not sacrifice our party’s future on the altar of political convenience. Let us choose wisely, choose courageously and choose in the best interest of the people.
Erasmus Egbe, a member of the All Progressives Congress writes in from 37 MCC Road Calabar, Cross River State.
NB: Opinions expressed in this sponsored article are strictly attributable to the author, Erasmus Egbe, and do not represent the opinion of CrossRiverWatch