By CrossRiverWatch Admin
Despite moves to clear the path for third-term Representative, Rt. Hon. Mike Etaba to run for a fourth term, one APC House of Representatives aspirant, Captain Tawo Edom says he’s pushing ahead with consultations and party engagements across the constituency.
Tawo’s entry has rattled the local political structure. But he says he’s passed APC’s national screening and is focused on securing the ticket ahead of the primaries.
“I am honoured to say that I have been successfully screened by The National Screening Committee of our great Party the All Progressives Congress,” Edom said in a statement to CrossRiverWatch last week.
Expressing gratitude to the party leadership and the constituents he hopes to represent, he pledges to, “keep the flag hoisted high for our great party and by God’s overwhelming Grace victory shall be ours.”
The Constituency
The federal constituency is one of eight in Cross River State. Recently, the current lawmaker, Mr. Etaba made the news over allegations of extramarital affairs – a claim he neither acknowledged nor denied.
However, he shared a video of himself dancing after religious messages of a divine backing.Opinions about his performance in the past decade are sharply divided between supporters and others.
Consensus Building
With the Electoral Act 2026 clearly stating that Candidates can only emerge via Consensus building or direct Primaries, the leadership of the APC in the State has been making efforts to prevent confrontations.
Across different State constituencies, many, viewed as loyal to the Governor have either emerged as first time candidates or retained their candidacy ahead of the actual primaries which are slated to begin today leading to the Presidential Primaries on May 25th.
The consensus building program has been greeted with mixed reactions with critics also describing it as a constitutionalised form of imposition.
What It Means
Consensus means other aspirants voluntarily step down for a single aspirant, who then becomes the party’s candidate.
It is meant to be an agreement among party members on who should represent them of which the Act sets three strict conditions which must be met or the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC won’t recognize the candidate.
These are:
1. Only cleared aspirants participate – they must have passed party screening.
2. Written consent from all cleared aspirants – every aspirant must voluntarily withdraw and endorse one person as the consensus candidate.
3. Ratification at a special convention/nomination congress – held at the relevant national, state, senatorial, federal, or state constituency level.
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