A frontline  aspirant of last Saturday’s  All Progressives Peoples Congress APC House of Representatives primary election in Cross River State, Hon Ekpo Mkpanam Obo- Bassey has urged the losers of the election and their supporters to show the virtues of true democrats by accepting defeat without bitterness or resentment.

The former State House of Assembly member who represented Biase Constituency between 2003- 2011 made the call at the weekend in reaction to the outcome of the exercise.

A former member of the State House of Assembly and the current  Director General of the State Border Commission, Hon Ngim Okpo  emerged as the winner of the primary election held on Saturday.

In the exercise conducted in all the political wards in Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency, Ngim Okpo  defeat four other contestants and was ratified as the party’s flag bearer in the 2027 general elections.

Obo-Bassey recalled the formation of the APC and the ideals upon which the party was built, saying members must preserve the spirit of sacrifice and selflessness that had sustained the party through previous election cycles.

” The All Progressives Congress (APC) was formed on the firm principles of progressive politics, consensus democracy, and personal devotion and sacrifice. This principle of selflessness and devotion has seen us go through each election cycle and come out firmer together. We must consolidate on it as we go into the 2027 general elections,” he said.

Obo-Bassey urged the contenders to demonstrate genuine spirit of sportsmanship by accepting the results. He said: “In every competition, someone has to win and someone has to lose, but those who lost should not abandon the party or lose their enthusiasm for the advancement of the party.

“In politics, there is always another opportunity, sometimes better than the present. Hence don’t lose hope permanently because tomorrow could present another prospect.

“The objective is to have a strong party that can beat all  Democratic  other political parties at the 2027 polls. This is the time to build structures around to ensure we deliver our candidate.

“We should therefore work together for the success of the APC despite the defeat. A house divided among itself cannot stand. The APC is our home and we can’t burn it down.”

He, however, urged Okpo to be magnanimous in victory, adding that he should see his emergence as a public trust for a better Cross River State..