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The All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections in Cross River State have reshaped the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, with five serving members of the House of Representatives failing to secure return tickets.
The outcome leaves only three incumbent lawmakers returning as APC candidates for another term in the National Assembly. Ejes Gist News reports that the primaries triggered major political realignments across several federal constituencies in the state.
Among the most prominent casualties are three-term lawmaker Rt. Hon. Mike Etaba and two-term federal legislator Rt. Hon. Alex Egbona, both of whom lost their bids to return to the House of Representatives under the APC platform.
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Serving APC Reps Who Lost Return Tickets
| S/N | Lawmaker | Federal Constituency | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rt. Hon. Mike Etaba | Etung/Obubra | Lost Ticket |
| 2 | Rt. Hon. Alex Egbona | Abi/Yakurr | Lost Ticket |
| 3 | Hon. Godwin Offiono | Ogoja/Yala | Lost Ticket |
| 4 | Hon. Emil Inyang | Akamkpa/Biase | Lost Ticket |
| 5 | Hon. Bassey Akiba | Odukpani/Calabar Municipality | Lost Ticket |
A total of five out of eight serving APC members from Cross River State were displaced during the primaries.
APC Reps Who Retained Their Tickets
| S/N | Lawmaker | Federal Constituency | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hon. Peter Akpanke | Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku (OBO) | Retained |
| 2 | Hon. Joseph Bassey | Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar South (ABC) | Retained |
| 3 | Hon. Victor Abang | Ikom/Boki | Retained |
The result means only three incumbents successfully secured APC tickets for the 2027 House of Representatives elections.
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Full List of APC Candidates for 2027 Reps Election in Cross River
| Federal Constituency | APC Candidate |
|---|---|
| Ogoja/Yala | Dr. Stella Odey-Ekpo |
| Akamkpa/Biase | Hon. Ngim Okpo |
| Ikom/Boki | Hon. Victor Abang |
| Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku (OBO) | Hon. Peter Akpanke |
| Etung/Obubra | Blessing Egbara |
| Abi/Yakurr | Rt. Hon. John Gaul Lebo |
| Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar South (ABC) | Hon. Joseph Bassey |
| Odukpani/Calabar Municipality | Hon. Effefiong Nta Eke |
Mike Etaba, Alex Egbona Among Major Casualties
Rt. Hon. Mike Etaba’s defeat is considered one of the biggest upsets from the APC primaries in Cross River State. The Etung/Obubra representative had spent three terms in the House of Representatives and remained one of the most visible federal lawmakers from the state.
Rt. Hon. Alex Egbona also failed to secure renomination for the Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency seat after serving two terms in the National Assembly.
The emergence of new candidates such as Dr. Stella Odey-Ekpo, Blessing Egbara and Hon. Ngim Okpo signals a broader shift within the APC’s political structure in Cross River State.
Political Implications of the APC Primaries
Political stakeholders within the state view the outcome as a sign of deep internal recalibration within the ruling party.
Key developments from the primaries include:
- Five incumbents displaced from the APC ticket
- New entrants emerging in strategic constituencies
- Possible defections by affected lawmakers
- Renewed grassroots competition ahead of 2027
- Increased pressure on APC candidates to consolidate party structures
The APC primaries also indicate that incumbency alone no longer guarantees automatic return tickets within the APC structure in Cross River State.
Breakdown of APC Primary Outcome in Cross River
| Category | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total APC Reps from Cross River | 8 |
| Incumbents Who Lost Tickets | 5 |
| Incumbents Who Retained Tickets | 3 |
| Percentage of Incumbents Displaced | 62.5% |
The development is expected to influence political alignments across the state as parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections.
