Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong has emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Cross River South Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Ekpenyong, the incumbent senator representing Cross River South, was affirmed unopposed during the APC senatorial primary held in Calabar after emerged through the APC direct primary system as the sole aspirant for the senatorial ticket.

The incumbent Senator emerged the sole aspirant after former three- term House of Representatives member, Hon Daniel Asuquo who represented Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency was allegedly disqualified by  the national screening committee of the party.

Though the result of the election which was peaceful and  transparent was yet to be announced officially by the Returning Officer  at the time of filing this report, Ekpenyong secured affirmation votes from delegates and party members across all the  wards in the the seven local government areas that make up Cross River South Senatorial District.

APC chieftains who spoke during the election described Ekpenyong’s emergence as a sign of peaceful coexistence and unity among APC members in the area. and within the party.

“Cross River South is like one big political family, and that is why our primary elections have been peaceful and successful.

“We congratulate Senator Ekpenyong on his emergence and wish him success in the general elections,” he said.

In Cross River Central Senatorial District, the story was completely different as party members waited for hours in their wards to vote but election materials never arrived the polling units as at 3pm.

There was confusion in the area sequel to a document currently trending in social media platforms allegedly released by the APC National Screening Committee for the senate purportedly disqualifying Mr Oden Ewa, another aspirant for the ticket.

Speaking with journalists in the incumbent Senator representing Cross River Central, Eteng Williams dismissed reports that he has withdrawn from the race for the Cross River Central Senatorial District, insisting he remains a candidate for the All Progressives Congress.

The senator, who is seeking a second term in 2027, said the claims making the rounds in certain quarters are false.

Speaking on Monday at Mkpani in Yakurr Local Government Area, Williams said he was responding to rumours circulating in Cross River State that he had “chickened out” of the contest.

He told journalists that the reports did not reflect his position or intentions.

The senator expressed confidence in securing the party’s ticket and winning the general election. “I’m sure of winning the elections in the final analysis, nothing can stop me from winning,” he said.

He added that he had carried out extensive consultations and received assurances of support from his constituents.

Williams said the backing he enjoys is visible and public, not confined to closed-door meetings. “I feel happy that my people really want me.

The support is not done in one room or in isolation. It is done here in an open place. You can see that almost everybody here wants me to be in the race,” he stated. He described suggestions that he had stepped down as “laughable.”

Although result of the Cross River North Senatorial District was not officially  announced as at the time of filing this report, The Guardian reports that the incumbent senator, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe who enjoys a large support and followersip also emerged as the winner of the election.

Jarigbe, a former House of Representatives member representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and the current Senator representing Cross River North under the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP only defected to the APC some months before the party primaries after a gentleman’s agreement brokered between him and former Cross River governor, Senator Ben Ayade by President Bola Tinubu another aspirant for the party ticket.

The primary in the Cross River South  reflectes unity, internal consensus, and strong grassroots mobilisation within the district.The peaceful atmosphere also reflects the level of acceptance enjoyed by the senatorial candidate within the party.

For Cross River Central, the party risks an internal crisis and possible litigation if aggrieved aspirants are forced into a consensus arrangement. This could lead to legal battles that might ultimately leave the party without a senatorial candidate in the 2027 general elections.