A massive political mobilisation was witnessed in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, as youths, women, elders and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) took to the streets in a solidarity walk organised by the Evidence Group. The procession, which passed through major routes in the city, was marked by music, dancing, colourful displays, political chants and banners expressing support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Cross River State Governor, Bassey Edet Otu.
The mobilisation brought together supporters from different communities and sections of Cross River State, with organisers describing the turnout as an indication of growing political activity at the grassroots ahead of the 2027 general elections. The organisers described the event as a one-million-man solidarity walk, saying it was designed to demonstrate grassroots support for the Tinubu and Otu administrations while encouraging greater participation in the democratic process.
Speaking during the event, the Director-General of the Evidence Group, Bassey Eyoma, said the turnout demonstrated the level of support that the organisation had been able to generate despite the fact that the Calabar mobilisation was its first major public activity. “You can see the level of community support we are witnessing here. This is one of the largest we have ever seen. We have only just started, and this is the first major activity of this group,” Eyoma said.
Eyoma disclosed that the group planned to extend its mobilisation beyond Calabar to the Northern and Central Senatorial Districts of the state and subsequently to all 18 Local Government Areas. Eyoma said the organisation would mobilise support for Tinubu, Otu and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections, setting an ambitious target for the party across the state. “We must deliver five over five. We are looking at giving the President about four million votes, and we must achieve that by mobilising the people and taking the votes to the polling units,” he said.
Representing Governor Otu at the event, the Deputy Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Sylvester Agabi, commended participants for their support for the administration’s People First philosophy. Agabi particularly highlighted the government’s emphasis on security and youth engagement, claiming that measures introduced by the administration had contributed to a reduction in cult-related clashes in the state.
The Deputy Speaker urged young people to maintain their unity and channel their collective energy towards constructive civic participation and community development. “When the youths are united, we will be able to contribute meaningfully to the development of the State and support the efforts of the government,” Agabi said. Also speaking, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Emmanuel Ironbar, described the turnout as evidence of the enthusiasm surrounding the movement and what he characterised as the performance of the state and federal administrations.
The Evidence Group said its next phase of activities would extend to the three senatorial districts and the state’s 18 Local Government Areas, in what it described as a sustained grassroots engagement programme. The Calabar event therefore marked the beginning of a broader mobilisation effort by the group, with its leadership seeking to translate the enthusiasm displayed at the solidarity walk into sustained grassroots political organisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
Key points
- The Evidence Group organised a one-million-man solidarity walk in Calabar to demonstrate grassroots support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Cross River State Governor, Bassey Edet Otu.
- The group plans to extend its mobilisation to the Northern and Central Senatorial Districts of Cross River State and all 18 Local Government Areas ahead of the 2027 elections.
- The mobilisation aimed to promote civic consciousness and encourage citizens, particularly youths, to participate more actively in democratic affairs.
