Automobile technicians and other operators in the automotive sector in Cross River State have declared their support for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Bassey Otu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group, which has over 200,000 members across the state, comprises automobile technicians, spare parts dealers, engine oil and lubricant dealers, motor dealers, the Female Automobile Technicians Association and the Automobile Technicians Regulatory Department.
The stakeholders, under the aegis of the Unified Automobile Technicians Support Group, made their position known on Tuesday during the formal inauguration of the group at the Cross River State College of Health Technology, Calabar.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of the UATSG, Ndem Effiong, said the group was established to provide technical and political support to the All Progressives Congress-led governments at the federal and state levels.
Effiong, who is also the Special Adviser to Governor Otu on Automobile Technicians and Regulatory Services, said the group would participate actively in the political process and support the re-election bid of the governor and President Tinubu in 2027.
He said, “Come 2027, we will effectively participate in the process of electing or re-electing our party’s candidates at the polls.”
The UATSG DG said the group had earlier consulted the state executive committee of the APC and other political leaders as part of efforts to mobilise its members for the forthcoming elections.
He added that the group had requested to be integrated into the APC campaign structure, promising to provide technical support throughout the campaign.
“Our experts will be on ground to fix any broken-down vehicle or generating set that will be used during the campaigns,” Effiong stated.
He attributed the group’s support to what he described as the efforts of the Tinubu and Otu administrations to reposition the automotive industry and improve economic opportunities for practitioners.
According to him, several initiatives have been attracted to the state within the past year, including an Automotive Training Centre in Awi, Akamkpa Local Government Area, a CNG and electric vehicle conversion point at the University of Calabar, plans for a vehicle assembly plant and training programmes for technicians.
Effiong also disclosed that the National Automotive Design and Development Council would organise a five-day national executive retreat in Calabar later in August.
He commended Governor Otu for establishing the Automobile Technicians Regulatory Department, saying the initiative had provided a framework for regulating the activities of practitioners in the state.
Chairman of the occasion and Chairman of the Cross River State Local Government Service Commission, Eyo Ekpo, described the inauguration as a major political development ahead of the 2027 elections.
Ekpo urged the over 200,000 members of the group to mobilise their families, friends and associates to support the APC, saying the group could significantly influence the state’s electoral fortunes.
He said, “Elections are not held on social media. Most social media tigers don’t come out on election days because we will swallow them whole.”
Ekpo also declared that Governor Otu’s re-election in 2027 was certain, urging the group to work towards ensuring that Cross River recorded the highest percentage of votes for the APC in the South-South geopolitical zone.
Representing Governor Otu, the Special Adviser to the Governor on General Duties, Ekpenyong Akiba, thanked the group for its support and assured the members that the administration would continue to engage with them.
Akiba described the automotive sector as an important component of the state’s economy because of its extensive network of technicians, traders and other operators across communities.
He said the governor was committed to rewarding hard work and supporting the development of the sector, adding that the administration would work with the group to achieve its objectives.
Akiba also urged the technicians to mobilise more votes for President Tinubu and Governor Otu in 2027, arguing that increased support for the APC would strengthen Cross River’s influence at the national level.
He cited the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as one of the Federal Government’s projects which, according to him, demonstrated the importance of continued cooperation between the state and federal governments.
The inauguration was attended by political leaders, government officials, automobile technicians, spare parts dealers, lubricant dealers, motor dealers and other stakeholders in the automotive industry.