Governor Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State has officially resumed his duties after a three-week vacation, opting to forgo a two-week leave extension earlier approved by the State House of Assembly.

The development was confirmed in a statement released on Friday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nsa Gill, who noted that Otu returned to work with renewed vigor to pursue the state’s developmental agenda.

“Governor Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State has confirmed the cancellation of the two-week extension granted to him by the State House of Assembly,” the statement read. “The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Elvert Ayambem, has been duly informed of this decision, and he is back to drive the developmental agenda with renewed energy.”

Governor Otu, who began his vacation on March 11, 2025, was scheduled to be away for five weeks in total. However, citing adjustments in his personal commitments, the governor said the need to resume duties ahead of schedule became imperative.

Gill revealed that Governor Otu’s first official assignment upon resumption is at the national level — serving as Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial primary election in Anambra State, scheduled for Saturday, April 5, 2025.

“Governor Otu is committed to moving the state forward, which takes precedence over any personal time away,” Gill stated, emphasizing the governor’s dedication to duty.

Otu is currently in Awka, the Anambra State capital, to oversee the primary election process, a move seen by observers as a signal of his deepening involvement in national party affairs.

The Cross River State House of Assembly had approved the governor’s leave extension during a plenary session held on April 4, following a formal request submitted by the Clerk. However, the governor later communicated his intention to resume early.

Political analysts believe Otu’s early return is likely to re-energize state governance and accelerate the implementation of policy initiatives across sectors.