Betta Edu has admitted that the 2023 general elections were “not very easy” for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, declaring that the party must intensify efforts to secure a convincing victory in 2027.
Edu spoke at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting of the APC convened by Governor Bassey Otu at the Calabar International Convention Centre.
The former APC National Women Leader said the party’s inability to win the presidential election in Cross River State in 2023 underscored the need for renewed grassroots mobilisation ahead of the next polls.
“2023 was not very easy for APC in Cross River State as we did not win the presidential elections in the state. A lot of work is required to ensure that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Prince Otu win convincingly in Cross River State,” she said.
Edu described the meeting as timely, noting that the party was preparing to return to the wards and local government areas to conduct its congresses and reposition for the 2027 elections.
She said stakeholders were already aligning strategies to mobilise no fewer than 1.5 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the state.
According to her, recent developments, including the release of a timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the party’s schedule of activities, and a newly signed electoral law by the President, require immediate adjustment by party members.
“At this point everyone has to adjust. We need to go back to the field and do all the necessary election training and provide information to our people so that they know what to expect,” she said.
Edu emphasised the importance of voter education on electoral procedures, including electronic transmission of results and the application of manual processes where necessary, stressing that the electorate must be adequately informed ahead of time.
She called for inclusive engagement across wards and local governments to consolidate gains and avoid what she termed past unwanted occurrences.
National Assembly members from the state and other party stakeholders pledged to intensify mobilisation across their constituencies as preparations begin for the 2027 general elections.