Gov’t Otu/APC Mega Street Endorsement: Market Women Applaud CRS First Lady as GEEP Coordinator Pledges Deeper Partnership to Empower More Women
By Ejeh Peter
CALABAR — The Cross River State First Lady, Her Excellency Bishop Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, has received strong commendation from market women and traders for what they described as her impactful humanitarian and empowerment initiatives across Cross River State.
The commendation came during the flag-off of the Cross River State Political Assembly (CRISPA) Mega Streets’ Endorsement Campaign at Watt Market, an event that brought together APC stakeholders, market leaders, traders and grassroots supporters.
Representing the First Lady at the event, the Cross River State Coordinator/Programme Manager of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), Mrs. Fanny Odey, praised the First Lady’s intervention programmes and described her commitment to women’s empowerment and humanitarian service as noteworthy.
Odey also expressed appreciation to CRISPA for what she described as a strategic grassroots engagement, commending the organisation’s leadership under its Director-General, Comr. Amb. Ejeh Peter, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Pet Media and Events.
According to her, the gathering demonstrated the importance of building stronger partnerships between government empowerment programmes, community-based organisations and women at the grassroots.
“I am delighted by this strategic engagement and initiative powered by the Cross River State Political Assembly, CRISPA, and by the capacity leadership demonstrated by the Director-General, Comr. Amb. Ejeh Peter.
“Her Excellency, our mother, has done exceptionally well in carrying out multiple empowerment and support schemes for women in the state, particularly market women.
“For the love we have for her, I have seen women here demonstrating their support for our dear Governor and all APC candidates. We will continue to collaborate and partner to ensure that the victory for 2027 is overwhelming,” Odey said.
Her remarks were repeatedly interrupted by enthusiastic chants and songs from sections of the crowd, who expressed appreciation for the First Lady and voiced their support for Governor Bassey Edet Otu, his deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, and other APC candidates.
The colourful gathering attracted a broad cross-section of APC stakeholders, market leaders, traders and grassroots supporters, highlighting the increasing political activity in the state ahead of the 2027 elections.
Among those at the event were the Deputy Chairman of the APC in Cross River State, Barr. Ogana Lukpata; State Secretary, Pastor Patrick Asuquo Okon; Ntufam Hon. Comr. John Nkom Etuk, former Executive Chairman of Etung Local Government Area and APC Assistant Auditor in the state; and Comr. Dan Obo, Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Edet Otu on Youth Mobilisation.
Also present were Dr. Victor Ogar; Mrs. Fanny Odey, CRS Coordinator/Programme Manager for GEEP, who represented the First Lady; other political stakeholders; members of CRISPA; and the leadership of Watt Market led by Elder Okon.
CRISPA: Endorsement Must Translate Into Grassroots Support
Earlier in his address, CRISPA Director-General, Comr. Amb. Ejeh Peter, urged traders and residents to sustain the momentum generated by the endorsement and translate their support into votes during the 2027 elections.
He said the organisation was committed to strengthening its grassroots structure and ensuring that its engagement with communities went beyond political gatherings.
“While we continue to demonstrate support after this endorsement, we must translate our support into significant votes in the coming elections. We must triple our votes for our Governor, His Excellency, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu, and our dependable and refined leader, his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, and extend the same support to all APC candidates in the South and, by extension, across the state,” Peter said.
The CRISPA Director-General also announced plans by the organisation to support more than 300 petty traders across Cross River State through stipends and other forms of assistance aimed at strengthening the livelihoods of market men, market women and other small-scale traders.
The announcement added an economic empowerment component to the political engagement, with CRISPA positioning grassroots economic support as part of its broader interaction with traders and community stakeholders.
Market Leaders Declare Support
Political stakeholders who spoke at the gathering emphasised grassroots participation, sustained engagement and collective mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
In their separate remarks, Watt Market Women Leader, Mrs. Victoria, and Elder Okon, President of the Watt Market Union, expressed support for the APC and its candidates, according to statements made at the event.
The atmosphere became particularly lively as traders and supporters broke into chants of “Sweet Prince 5/5!”, reflecting the enthusiasm among sections of the crowd.
The Watt Market gathering marked the flag-off of CRISPA’s Mega Streets’ Endorsement Campaign, with the organisation describing the initiative as a platform for deeper engagement with communities and the strengthening of its grassroots network across Cross River State.
CRISPA also urged APC stakeholders, supporters and grassroots leaders to take the engagement beyond political rallies by maintaining direct contact with residents, listening to community concerns and strengthening communication with the electorate.
With the Watt Market flag-off, the organisation said it would continue to focus on grassroots mobilisation, political engagement and economic empowerment as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
