By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA — A civic group, the People’s Demand Initiative (PDI), has called on Princess Hadiza Offoboche to declare for the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 general elections, citing her humanitarian work, grassroots reach and links within federal circles as key strengths.

The appeal, delivered through coordinated press briefings in Abuja and Yala on Saturday, presents Offoboche as a natural choice amid what the group describes as growing grassroots demand for service-driven leadership.

At the Abuja briefing, PDI spokesperson Comrade Patrick Livingston said the call is grounded in Offoboche’s consistent record of community service and the legacy of her late husband.

Similar sentiments were echoed in Yala during a parallel briefing moderated by Comrade Austin Imoke, with members from both Ogoja and Yala in attendance.

“It is her track record that has prompted the PDI to prevail on her to step forward and offer true leadership, one anchored on benevolence, confidence, and altruism,” Livingston said.

The group said its position is reinforced by the work of her humanitarian foundation, which has sustained interventions across communities in the Northern District of Cross River State, particularly in healthcare, education and economic empowerment.

According to the PDI, the foundation has donated medical equipment to local health centres, distributed educational materials to underprivileged schoolchildren, and provided financial support to women seeking to establish small-scale businesses.

It added that, beyond these interventions, Offoboche’s community visits and outreach programmes have become regular features across the constituency, drawing participation from residents in both Ogoja and Yala local government areas.

“Her consistency and selflessness should not be allowed without being in government to do more,” a member of the group, Miss Ajegi, said.

The group also pointed to Offoboche’s alignment with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State as a strategic advantage, noting that her grassroots engagement has supported the administration of Governor Bassey Edet Otu and complemented the initiatives of the First Lady, Eyoawan Bassey Otu.

PDI further disclosed that the First Lady has played a mentorship role in Offoboche’s philanthropic work, with her office said to be monitoring and supporting the foundation’s activities through aides.

The group stressed the need for a candidate defined by empathy and a genuine commitment to improving lives, insisting that Offoboche’s possible entry into the race would mark a natural progression from philanthropy into public service.