The Cross River State House of Assembly has condemned a petition from the Indigenous Displaced People of Bakassi, which calls for the federal government to remove Bakassi from Nigeria’s list of 774 local government areas.

The petition, addressed to President Bola Tinubu and copied to the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Senator representing Cross River Southern Senatorial District, bypassed the state government, prompting strong reactions from lawmakers.

They criticized the petition on Tuesday during a plenary session at the State House of Assembly Complex in Calabar for neglecting to consult Governor Bassey Otu and relevant state authorities.

During the plenary session, the representative for Bakassi, Eyo Bassey, raised a motion stating that he was not consulted before the petition was submitted. He emphasized his commitment to engaging with the people of Bakassi constructively and addressing their concerns through peaceful dialogue, rather than through political protests.

Co-sponsors of the motion condemned the petition for sidestepping official channels, calling it an unfortunate disregard for established procedures. Several lawmakers highlighted ongoing developmental projects in their constituencies, especially the Bakassi Deep Seaport, as evidence of the state government’s commitment to Bakassi’s progress under Governor Otu’s People First Agenda.

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, also voiced strong opposition to the petition, labeling it a “complete misnomer” and a façade.

He warned that attempts to politicize such sensitive issues would not derail the state’s development trajectory. “Cross River State is our common heritage. No one local government is more Cross River than the other. No self-interest will hinder the progress we are witnessing,” Ayambem declared.

The House resolved to summon the petitioners for a public explanation and called on Bakassi stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue with the government. Lawmakers reassured the people of Bakassi to trust in the government’s commitment to their welfare and development.