Senator Prince Bassey Otu, the Governor-elect of Cross River State, and the 25 elected members of the House of Assembly have received their Certificates of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the State, Prof. Gabriel Yomere gave the certificate to Senator Otu and all the elected members on Friday 31 March 2023 at Mike Igini hall, INEC headquarters, Calabar.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner who presided over the event said the event marks the end of the election process of this year. He thanked everyone for their support before, during, and after the election.
Prof. Yomere said the exercise aligns with section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) which empowers the Commission to issue certificates of return to elected members within 14 days after an election.
Prof. Yomere admonished the Governor-elect and every other member of the State House of Assembly to be magnanimous in victory and carry along those feeling defeated, as their victory is a call to service hence, there is a need to repose the confidence of the people.
In response, the Governor-elect, Senator Bassey Otu thanked INEC, security agents, the media, Cross Riverians, and non-indigenes for making the election a success, calling his fellow elected to put the people first.
Senator Otu repeated that his government will be all-inclusive and will allow youths and women to contribute their percentage.