By Kammonke Abam
Amidst the pomp that usually characterises political rallies, there was a mild drama and air of uncertainty yesterday at the Ikom Township Stadium as to whether or not to endorse the incumbent Senator representing Central Senatorial District, Senator Eteng Jonah Williams alongside the endorsement of Governor Prince Bassey Otu and his deputy, Dr. Peter Odey for 2027.
Eventually the alleged endorsement rumour that was very rife days before Saturday was deflated like a needle-pricked balloon as the endorsement was not on the agenda as widely purported, thus putting paid to the rumour that made rounds days before the rally.
Insider sources in Senator Eteng’s team had earlier said there never was any plan Ab initio to endorse Eteng at the Ikom rally as the “occasion was for the endorsement of the Governor and the Deputy Governor only”
Our correspondents that covered the rally exclusively reported that prior to the event, both the Senator Eteng Jonah Williams and Commissioner Oden Ewa camps held strategic planning meetings which got into the early hours of Saturday on how to best push the visibility of their candidates .
Subterranean moves reached fever pitch and followers of both Eteng and Oden were locked in verbal duel at the Ikom Township Stadium, venue of the Governor Otu Endorsement Rally, Saturday, May 11, 2025, soon after the motion for the adoption of Governor Otu was moved as each camp, reminiscent of a chess game, made attempts to optimally leverage the biggest political gathering in recent times in the senatorial district for their strategic gains.
The contest for who should fly the party’s senate ticket in 2027 is thickening and has extended to both social media platforms and interpersonal conversations
The two camps were reported to have made deft moves throughout the rally including lobbying key party chieftains to support their candidates. Among the chieftains that were lobbied are Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, former Senate Leader; and Senator John Owan Enoh, Minister for State, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
Meanwhile those rooting for the continuity of the incumbent Senator, Senator Eteng Jonah Williams say he has performed creditably to deserve a second term.
Dr. Bassey Ibor, a Director in the Progressive Institute, Abuja said, “the incumbent should fly APC’s senatorial ticket in Central Senatorial District in 2027 because he has done well in the three core areas of legislative representation: law making, representation in governance and oversight. No one can fault our present representative on these.”
Dr. Ibor added, “I have heard people talking of building roads, schools and other infrastructure, which are clearly not the primary role of a legislator. It’s time to deepen our politics in the Central”
In his parting words, he concluded, “there’s no opponent, presently”.
Senator Eteng’s Media Adviser, Hope Obeten said “The Mid-Term Performance Evaluation of Senator Eteng Jonah Williams assesses his performance across critical domains of legislative impact, constituency engagement, federal attraction, and institutional integration within the Nigerian Senate. Senator Williams has executed targeted interventions in all six Local Government Areas within Cross River Central, and the scorecard is available to see.
So far, evaluation scores him 90% excellent performance and strongly positions him for higher responsibilities in the Red Chamber, contingent on a second term to continue to good works.”
Those supporting the candidacy of the Mr. Oden Ewa cite what one of his supporters described as his sterling performance as a serving Commissioner
An avid supporter of Commissioner Oden, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla said
“I have chosen my senatorial candidate for the APC for the Central Senatorial District of Cross River State. He must be young, erudite, fresh, smart, savvy, and well-spoken.
In a statement sent to livesonline.ng that he titled, Restoring Excellence: A Call for Stronger Representation in Cross River Central Senatorial District”, Chief Obono-Obla said, “Cross River State is grossly underrepresented at the national level. Our Abuja delegation is spineless, directionless, and ineffective.
“Come 2027, we must demand a paradigm shift in our representation—one rooted in strength, vision, and real leadership.
“Cross River Central Senatorial District has long been regarded as the heartbeat of the State since the dawn of democratic civil rule, consistently producing excellent senators who made a significant impact on the national political stage. However, in the past three years, the visibility of our Senate delegation has unfortunately diminished due to underperforming representation—an oversight we cannot afford in the next four years, beginning in 2027.
“It is time to reclaim our voice, restore our influence, and ensure that Cross River Central Senatorial District once again commands respect and recognition in national politics. We need leaders who are not just present, but impactful—leaders who will fight for our interests with competence, courage, and unwavering dedication”.
Another supporter of Commissioner Oden, Amb Dan Abam said, “accessibility and responsiveness to constituents’ needs stand Oden Ewa out. He listens, engages, and acts on their concerns, making him a truly effective leader. In contrast, Senator Eteng Jones Williams seems disconnected, rarely taking calls or engaging with constituents.”
He added that “Hon. Oden Ewa has demonstrated remarkable commitment to healthcare. He created a Health Insurance Scheme, visits hospitals to support constituents, and pays hospital bills. These actions showcase his dedication to improving healthcare outcomes”.
The days ahead are really interesting for Central Senatorial District.
