Ahead of the 2027 general elections, youths in Cross River State have endorsed President Bola Tinubu and Governor Bassey Otu for a second term in office.

The endorsement came during the official unveiling of a youth-based political support group, the Evidence Group, held on Friday in Ogoja Local Government Area of the state.

The group, which said its mandate is to rally grassroots support for the President, the governor and the All Progressives Congress, inaugurated its Ogoja working committee at the event.

Speaking at the unveiling, the Director-General of the group, Eyoma Bassey, said the movement would embark on aggressive mobilisation across campuses and villages in the state.

Bassey charged the newly inaugurated committee to immediately commence ward and polling unit mobilisation, adding that all structures must be vetted by the central leadership before announcement.

He said, “The group is a youth based support group that rallies support for Mr President, our Governor and the APC candidates. With this initiative, we are going to different campuses, villages, wards and polling units to mobilize people to vote for the APC.”

He also assured that the group would remain proactive in selling the achievements of the Tinubu and Otu administrations to the electorates, adding that the gathering demonstrated the readiness of Cross River youths to mobilise support for the APC-led administration at both the state and federal levels.

“This gathering demonstrates the readiness of Cross River youths to mobilise support for the APC-led administration at both the state and federal levels. Therefore, we will remain proactive in selling the achievements of both President Tinubu and Governor Otu administrations to the people”, the DG said.

The Director-General further called on young people in the state to unite and actively participate in governance, noting that youth inclusion remained critical to democratic development.

In his remarks, the Coordinator of the Ogoja chapter, Jude Fingha, said the chapter was ready to deliver the APC in 2027, stressing that the group has adopted a “5 over 5” mantra to ensure total victory for the APC at all levels in the state.

Fingha described the gathering as a positive political development aimed at supporting a government he said had performed creditably well.

He urged youths in the state to support the APC administration peacefully, avoid violence and political intolerance.

“The entire purpose is to galvanise support once again and bring back the governor and others who are in line back to office by 2027,” he said.

On her part, the Director of Women Mobilisation, Ms Precious Bessong, called on women to take the lead in mobilising their families and communities for the APC.

Bessong said empowering women translates to empowering the entire family and nation, and urged them to spread the message of continuity.