INEC has cleared 241 candidates to contest 36 elective positions in Cross River State in the 2027 general elections, with 14 political parties participating and women accounting for 43 of the candidates.
No fewer than 241 candidates representing 14 political parties have been cleared to contest 36 elective positions in Cross River State in the 2027 general elections.
The positions include the governorship, three Senate seats, eight House of Representatives seats and 24 State House of Assembly seats, according to an examination of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) final list of candidates.
A breakdown of the list shows that eight candidates are contesting the governorship election, 25 are vying for the three senatorial seats, 63 are seeking election to the House of Representatives, while 145 are contesting the 24 State House of Assembly seats.
Of the 241 candidates, 198 are men, representing approximately 82.2 per cent, while 43 are women, accounting for 17.8 per cent.
The Calabar South State Constituency has the highest number of female candidates, with seven women contesting the seat.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) each fielded five female candidates for the elections.
Although 14 political parties are participating in Cross River State, only the APC, ADC and NDC fielded candidates for all 36 elective positions.
The youngest candidate identified in the investigation is 26-year-old Aboh Glady, who is contesting for a State House of Assembly seat under the platform of the Action Alliance (AA).
The oldest candidates are 69-year-old Asuquo Asuquo and Francis Ukpanyang, both of the Action Democratic Party (ADP). Asuquo is contesting the Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency seat, while Ukpanyang is seeking election to represent Calabar South State Constituency.
Meanwhile, five members of the National Assembly representing Cross River State failed to secure their parties’ tickets to seek re-election in 2027.
Cross River has 11 representatives in the National Assembly, comprising three senators and eight members of the House of Representatives, all elected on the APC platform.
Two of the three senators secured the party’s tickets for the 2027 elections. However, only three of the eight House of Representatives members seeking re-election succeeded in clinching their tickets.
The successful lawmakers are Joseph Bassey, representing Calabar South/Akpabuyo/Bakassi Federal Constituency; Peter Akpanke, representing Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku Federal Constituency; and Victor Abang, representing Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency.
Those who failed to secure their tickets are Emil Inyang of Biase/Akamkpa Federal Constituency, Bassey Akiba of Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency, Godwin Offiono of Yala/Ogoja Federal Constituency and Mike Etaba of Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency.
Alex Egbona, who represents Yakurr/Abi Federal Constituency, defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) shortly before the APC primaries.
The final list of candidates provides an overview of the political parties and aspirants preparing to contest the various elective positions in Cross River State in 2027.
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