Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
A coalition of youths in Cross River State endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Bassey Edet Otu for second terms ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, while calling for greater youth participation in governance and stronger unity within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The endorsement was announced on May 11, 2026, during the inauguration of executive members and local government coordinators of the Coalition of Cross River State Youths in Calabar, according to reports published by Punch and TheGuildNG on May 14, 2026.
The coalition said it intended to mobilise grassroots support for the APC-led administrations at the federal and state levels ahead of the elections.
However, the gathering also highlighted internal challenges facing the party in parts of the state, with another youth group urging Governor Otu to intervene in divisions within the APC in the Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency.
The developments reflect efforts by political support groups to organise grassroots mobilisation before the 2027 elections, while raising questions about party cohesion, youth participation and the importance of peaceful political engagement.
Coalition Announces Support for Tinubu and Otu
The Coalition of Cross River State Youths, which brings together young people and coordinators from the state’s 18 local government areas, declared its support for the second-term ambitions of Tinubu and Otu during its inauguration in Calabar.
According to Punch, the coalition’s Director-General, Etem Okimba, said the gathering represented the group’s readiness to mobilise support for the APC at both federal and state levels.
Okimba said the coalition intended to encourage young people to participate actively in political activities and support the party ahead of the next general elections.
The inauguration brought together the group’s executive members and local government coordinators, providing a platform to outline its political objectives and grassroots mobilisation plans.
The coalition also presented its endorsement as an initiative driven by young people rather than an activity organised exclusively by established political officeholders.
Okimba maintained that the mobilisation activities were organised by the youths themselves, without financial support from outside the group, according to Punch’s report.
The claim was presented as the coalition’s account of how the event was organised and funded. Independent financial documentation was not available in the reports reviewed to verify the assertion.
The endorsement represents the position of the participating coalition and should not be interpreted as evidence that all young people in Cross River State share the same political preference.
Nigeria’s youth population is politically diverse, with individuals and organisations holding different views about government policies, economic conditions, public services and the country’s political leadership.
Consequently, the coalition’s announcement is best understood as the declaration of a particular political support group rather than a statewide measure of youth opinion.
Youth Leaders Outline Grassroots Mobilisation Plans
Following the endorsement, the coalition said it would concentrate on grassroots mobilisation and greater youth participation in governance.
Its local government coordinators are expected to play a role in organising activities within their respective areas and encouraging young people to participate in the political process.
Grassroots mobilisation is a familiar feature of Nigerian election campaigns. Political parties and affiliated organisations often rely on local networks to communicate their positions, organise meetings and engage voters in communities across different constituencies.
Such activities can provide opportunities for political participation, particularly for young people seeking to become involved in party organisation and public affairs.
However, mobilisation efforts do not automatically translate into electoral support. Voters make individual decisions based on a range of factors, including their assessment of candidates, government performance, policy proposals and local concerns.
The coalition’s endorsement therefore establishes its stated political position but does not determine the outcome of the 2027 elections.
The group will need to demonstrate how it intends to engage residents, communicate its objectives and maintain peaceful participation as political activity increases ahead of the polls.
Elder Ita-Agbor Edim, the coalition’s coordinator in Calabar Municipality, also addressed the gathering.
He described the initiative as an effort to strengthen support for the APC administration and urged young people to avoid violence and political intolerance.
His remarks placed peaceful political participation among the group’s stated priorities.
Political mobilisation in Nigeria often involves competing interests, particularly when parties and support groups seek to expand their influence ahead of elections. Encouraging supporters to respect opposing views and participate within the law is therefore important to maintaining a constructive political environment.
The coalition’s activities will be judged not only by the number of people it attracts but also by how it conducts its engagements and respects the rights of residents who may hold different political opinions.
Youth Participation and Democratic Engagement
Youth participation is an important component of Nigeria’s democratic system, particularly as political parties prepare for national and state elections.
Young people can contribute to political processes through party membership, voter registration, public debates, policy advocacy, election monitoring and participation in electoral contests.
They also represent a significant constituency whose concerns include employment, education, healthcare, infrastructure, entrepreneurship and opportunities for economic advancement.
Political organisations seeking youth support frequently emphasise inclusion and the opportunity to influence government decisions.
For the Coalition of Cross River State Youths, the endorsement of Tinubu and Otu provides a framework for mobilising members around the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, sustained youth participation requires more than campaign activities. It also depends on whether political organisations provide meaningful opportunities for members to contribute ideas, engage with policy questions and hold their representatives accountable.
Young people may support a political party while also expecting it to address problems affecting their communities.
Issues such as access to quality education, employment opportunities, the cost of living, electricity supply and the development of local infrastructure can influence public discussions during election campaigns.
The extent to which political organisations address these concerns through concrete proposals and public engagement can help voters assess their priorities.
The coalition’s stated intention to encourage greater youth involvement therefore provides an opportunity to examine how political mobilisation can connect with broader questions of governance and public accountability.
APC Internal Divisions Raise Concerns in Akamkpa/Biase
While the coalition declared its support for Tinubu and Otu, a separate group of youths associated with the Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency raised concerns about internal disagreements within the APC.
The Akamkpa/Biase Youth Movement called on Governor Otu to intervene in the party’s internal crisis in the constituency, warning that divisions could create difficulties for the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The appeal was reported by TheGuildNG, which said the group raised the issue during separate political engagements in Calabar on May 11, 2026.
Speaking on behalf of the movement, Daniel Enang, from Ehom Ward, said the disagreements were creating concern among members and could affect party unity.
The group urged the governor and other APC stakeholders to help resolve the disagreements before the next general elections.
Its position illustrates the difference between securing endorsements from political support groups and maintaining cohesion within a party’s organisational structures.
An endorsement expresses support for a candidate or administration, but internal disagreements over representation, party leadership and political arrangements can complicate mobilisation efforts.
Such disputes are not unique to the APC. Political parties frequently face competing interests among members, elected officials, aspirants and local leaders, particularly as elections approach.
The challenge for party leadership is to manage these differences through established internal procedures and dialogue.
The Akamkpa/Biase Youth Movement’s appeal indicates that at least some party-affiliated youths believe internal unity requires attention alongside efforts to mobilise support for the next elections.
The reports reviewed did not establish whether the governor subsequently intervened or whether the concerns raised by the group were resolved.
Youths Also Endorse Lawmaker for Second Term
The Akamkpa/Biase Youth Movement also endorsed Onun Emil Inyang, the member representing Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, for a second term.
The group said it supported the lawmaker’s return to the National Assembly and urged APC stakeholders to address disagreements within the constituency.
According to TheGuildNG, youth leader Daniel Enang praised projects he attributed to Inyang in education, agriculture and infrastructure.
The report also cited solar-powered boreholes in several communities among the projects mentioned by the group.
These assessments were presented as the views of the endorsing youths. The available reporting did not provide an independent evaluation of the projects or a comprehensive record of the lawmaker’s constituency performance.
A separate youth leader, Raphael Egwu, also expressed support for Inyang, describing him as a loyal APC member who had promoted party unity.
Egwu argued that retaining the existing political arrangement between Akamkpa and Biase was important to fairness and equity within the constituency.
The group’s endorsement and its call for party unity demonstrate how political support can be connected to questions of local representation and the distribution of political opportunities.
However, voters will ultimately have the opportunity to assess candidates through the electoral process, while party nominations will be determined through the applicable procedures of the political parties and relevant electoral rules.
Political Endorsements and Voter Choice
Endorsements by organised groups can influence political conversations by signalling the priorities of particular constituencies or networks.
They can also provide candidates and parties with platforms for communicating their messages and organising supporters.
Nevertheless, endorsements do not replace the democratic process or establish the preferences of the wider electorate.
The Coalition of Cross River State Youths represents an organised group with a declared political position. Its endorsement of Tinubu and Otu should therefore be distinguished from the views of young people who are not members of the coalition or who support different political alternatives.
Similarly, the concerns expressed by the Akamkpa/Biase Youth Movement reflect the position of that group and do not necessarily represent every APC member in the constituency.
A balanced assessment of the political situation requires attention to the views of different stakeholders, the responses of party leadership and the issues voters consider important.
The 2027 elections will provide an opportunity for eligible voters to assess the candidates and parties contesting the relevant offices.
Until then, political groups are likely to continue organising meetings, declaring support and seeking to expand their presence across communities.
The credibility of such activities depends partly on their commitment to peaceful engagement, transparency and respect for democratic rights.
Why the Endorsement Matters
The endorsement is significant because it shows how youth organisations are positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections in Cross River State.
For the APC, the coalition’s stated objective of mobilising support across the state’s 18 local government areas provides an organisational platform for engaging young people.
For the participating youths, the coalition offers a structure through which they can take part in political mobilisation and express support for candidates they favour.
However, the separate appeal for intervention in the Akamkpa/Biase party dispute highlights a challenge that political organisations may face as they prepare for elections: maintaining unity while accommodating different interests.
The situation also raises broader questions about how political parties engage young people beyond election periods.
Meaningful participation can involve more than rallies and campaign activities. It can include consultations on local development, discussion of policy proposals, opportunities for leadership and mechanisms through which elected officials explain their decisions.
For Cross River State, the public debate surrounding the endorsements provides an opportunity to examine the relationship between political organisation, youth engagement and government accountability.
For Nigeria more broadly, the development illustrates how grassroots groups contribute to the political environment ahead of general elections, while also showing why their claims should be understood within the limits of the evidence available.
What Happens Next?
The Coalition of Cross River State Youths has indicated that it intends to mobilise support for Tinubu and Otu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Its local government coordinators are central to that objective, although the reports reviewed did not provide a detailed timetable for future activities or independently verified targets for participation.
The Akamkpa/Biase Youth Movement, meanwhile, has called for intervention to address internal APC disagreements and has endorsed Inyang for another term in the House of Representatives.
Whether the party’s internal concerns will be resolved remains unclear from the available reporting.
Further developments will depend on the activities of the groups, responses from APC leaders and the broader political process leading to the 2027 elections.
For voters, the key issues will include the candidates seeking office, their policy proposals, their records in public service and the extent to which competing political groups engage with citizens’ concerns.
The endorsements are statements of political support, not electoral results. The final decisions will be made through the electoral process.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
- Punch — reporting by Emem Julius on the Coalition of Cross River State Youths’ endorsement, published May 14, 2026.
- TheGuildNG — reporting by Asuquo Cletus on the endorsements and the call to address APC divisions in Akamkpa/Biase, published May 14, 2026.
