Cross River State is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Named for the Cross River, the state was formed from the eastern part of the Eastern Region on 27 May 1967. Its capital is Calabar, it borders to the north through Benue state, to the west through Ebonyi state and Abia state, and to the southwest through Akwa Ibom state, while its eastern border forms part of the national border with Cameroon. Originally known as the South-Eastern State before being renamed in 1976, Cross River state formerly included the area that is now Akwa Ibom state, which became a distinct state in 1987.
Nigeria has 774 local government areas (LGAs), each administered by a local government council consisting of a chairman, who is the chief executive, and other elected members, who are referred to as councillors. Each LGA is further subdivided into a minimum of ten and a maximum of twenty wards. A ward is administered by a councillor, who reports directly to the LGA chairman. The councillors fall under the legislative arm of the Local Government, the third tier of government in Nigeria, below the state governments and the federal government.
The Yakurr live in five compact towns in Cross River State, Nigeria. They were formally known as Umor, Ekoli, Ilomi, Nkoibolokom and Yakurr be Ibe. Due to linguistic problems encountered by the early European visitors, the settlements have come to be known by their mispronounced versions – Ugep, Ekori, Idomi, Nko and Mkpani. In the latter, it is a product of yakpanikpani, a name, which Enang (1980) says was given to them by the Ugep people after being tricked in a conflict.
Leboku being a dialectic name for ""Festival" is known to be the annual New Yam Festival of the Yakạạ people because the word is the language of the Yakurr people. It is celebrated in the south-south region of Cross River State, Nigeria. The Leboku New Yam festival is peculiar to the core Yakạạ speaking communities: Ugep, Idomi, Ekori, Mkpani and Nko, and the international version is celebrated in Ugep once in a year. Each of the communities mentioned being peculiar to the Festival have a distinct day secluded or set aside for the celebration in their respective communities. These are; Lemomor boku, Lelomi boku, Lekoli boku, Lekpanikpani boku and Lekakaa boku. This is celebrated to honor the earth goddess and the ancestral spirits of the land in Ugep, one of the five settlements of Yakurr. The three-week festival is the culmination of many events: the beginning of the yam harvest, a time to appease the gods and ancestors, a public parade of engaged maidens, a commemoration of events that led to the migration from the Yakurr ancestral home to the present site, and a period of holiday in the Yakurr traditional calendar. The Yakurr calendar runs from August to July. During the Leboku, people keep away from intense farming activities and exchange visits with their families. The Leboku is also meant to usher in peace, good health and prosperity.
Ugep is a town in the Yakurr Local Government Area in Cross River State, southern Nigeria. The village is populated by the Yakurr people.
Obubra is a Local Government Area (LGA) of Cross River State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Obubra, which is home to the Ibrahim Babangida College of Agriculture.
Clement David Ebri is a Nigerian politician who was elected on the NRC platform as Governor of Cross River State, Nigeria between January 1992 and November 17, 1993 during the Nigerian Third Republic, leaving office after the military coup that brought General Sani Abacha to power. He was a strong supporter of General Ibrahim Babangida, who had initiated the short-lived third republic.
Usani Uguru Usani is a Nigerian pastor, lecturer and politician who served as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs in the Nigerian government.
Ntankpo is a village in Yakurr local government area of Cross River State, Nigeria.
Mkpanghi is a village in Abi local government area of Cross River State, Nigeria.
Idomi is a village in Yakurr Local Government of Cross River State, Nigeria.
Mkpani is a village in the Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. This community gave birth to two communities, Lebang, and Lopon. Mkpani is 120 km (90ml) wide and has an area of 340 km2. The population is 8,000 people. Mkpani community is known for its farming system of planting yam, cassava, maize, plantain and many more agricultural crops. This community is made of three (3) different wards (clans). The community has only one council ward joined with the neighboring community, Agoi-Bami. The Mkpani community is known for their hospitable welcoming spirit
Inyima is a village in Yakurr Local Government of Cross River State, Nigeria.
Nko is a village in Yakurr Local Government of Cross River State, Nigeria. It is the shortened form of Nkoibolokom. It is one of the five Lokàà-speaking settlements that together with Agoi-Ibami, Agoi-Ekpo, Inyima, Ekpeti, and Assiga make up what is known as Yakurr. The other Lokàà-speaking towns are Idomi, Ugep, Ekori, and Mkpani. They are known for their hospitality and have throughout the years produced notable people who have served the country in various capacities.
Ivara Ejemot Esu OFR, is a Nigerian politician, academic administrator and professor and is the former Deputy Governor of Cross River State. He hails from Agwagune in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. He holds the Nigerian National Honours Award in the rank of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) conferred on him by President Obasanjo in 2005 and the Cross River State Honours Merit Award conferred on him by Governor Donald Duke in 2004 for carrying out excellent management reforms at the University of Calabar. Esu has held many positions of responsibility such as Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar (2000–2005); Honourable Minister of State for Tourism, Culture and National Orientation ; Member, Technical Committee on Privatization and Commercialization (TCPC), Presidency, Lagos (1990–1992); Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Development Cross River State (1992–1993); Chairman Federal Medical Centre Board, Owerri (2009–2011) and chairman, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi (2012–2015) and was an Elder Statesman Delegate at the 2014 National Conference of Nigeria. Esu is a Soil Scientist (Pedologist) who has taught in various tertiary institutions, some of which include; the Kaduna Polytechnic; Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, University of Calabar, University of Uyo and the University of Ghana, Legon, Accra.
Cross River Central senatorial district in Cross River State covers six local governments which include Abi, Yakurr, Obubra, Ikom, Etung and Boki. The current representative of Cross River Central is Senator Eteng Jonah Williams of the All Progressives Congress(APC).
The Bahumono are a southeastern Nigerian ethnic group that primarily resides in the Abi local government area of Cross River State. They are the largest ethnic group in the region.
The 2019 Cross River State gubernatorial election occurred on March 9, 2019. Incumbent PDP Governor Benedict Ayade won re-election for a second term, defeating APC's John Owan Enoh, and several minor party candidates.
The 2023 Cross River State gubernatorial election took place on 18 March 2023, to elect the Governor of Cross River State, concurrent with elections to the Cross River State House of Assembly as well as twenty-seven other gubernatorial elections and elections to all other state houses of assembly. The election—which was postponed from its original 11 March date—will be held three weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections. Incumbent APC Governor Benedict Ayade was term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third term.
The 2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Cross River State will be held on 25 February 2023, to elect the 3 federal Senators from Cross River State, one from each of the state's three senatorial districts. The elections will coincide with the 2023 presidential election, as well as other elections to the Senate and elections to the House of Representatives; with state elections being held two weeks later. Primaries were held between 4 April and 9 June 2022.
Nigeria 
