By Jude Opara with agency report
A former governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Cross River State, Effiong Nyong, has dismissed allegations that the party is secretly working to support the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Speaking during an interview in Calabar, Nyong described the claims as political propaganda aimed at weakening the growing popularity of the ADC ahead of the next general elections.
He maintained that the party remains independent and committed to presenting itself as a credible alternative platform for Nigerians.
According to him, cordial relationships among politicians from different parties should not be interpreted as political compromise or hidden alliances.
Nyong also used the opportunity to criticise the administration of Bassey Otu, accusing it of failing to sustain development across critical sectors in Cross River State.
The ADC chieftain said the state had witnessed decline in education, tourism, sports and public administration despite available economic resources and federal allocations.
Reflecting on the state’s educational history, he lamented what he described as the steady erosion of standards that once made Cross River a destination for quality learning in Nigeria.
“I schooled in Cross River State when people came from different parts of the country because they were certain of getting quality education. Today, can we still say the same? The answer is no,” he stated.
Nyong further decried the condition of the civil service, alleging that professionalism and merit had been replaced by political patronage, resulting in inefficiency and poor record management.
He also linked increasing youth restiveness and insecurity in the state to years of neglect in education, sports development and job creation.
According to him, an ADC-led government in the state would prioritise reforms in the civil service, education and sports sectors with emphasis on discipline, merit and institutional efficiency.
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