The crisis brewing in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State has taken a new dimension as the Forum of Chapter Chairmen and Secretaries barricaded the Party headquarters along Murtala Mohammed Way, Calabar, Cross River State, calling on the Party Chairman to resign.
Before Wednesday’s protest, the 35 Party Chairmen and Secretaries had passed a vote of no confidence on the Party Chairman, alleging loss of trust and confidence on the leadership of Alphonsus Ogar Eba, the State Chairman of the ruling APC.
Genesis of the Crisis.
Last weekend, Alphonsus Ogar Eba, Chairman of the Party, welcomed the former governor to a big party at Margaret Ekpo International Airport, including former Commissioners, who served in Ben Ayade’s administration.
Ayade who came all the way from United Kingdom to attend the wedding of Basssey Otu’s son rattled the incumbent Governor Basssey Otu at such a party and popularity of Ayade stunned everybody. This seemed to have caused confusion in the governor’s camp, setting stage for Party chairman’s removal from office and also planning to stop him from getting a second term.
Alphonsus Ogar Eba has three months to renew his tenure and is seen as Ayade appointee who was loyal to the former governor.
“Arising from a very crucial meeting. We, the Forum of APC Chapter Chairmen and Secretaries Cross River State as critical stakeholders of our great Party APC in the Sate deemed it extremely necessary to make this communique on the above stated subject matter.
“Refusal to pay party stipends to Party Officials at the Chapter and Ward levels for three (3) months which has crippled the running of the Party offices and welfare of the Party Officials with grave economic consequences. It is on record that in the history of the Party Administration in the State, no State Party Chairman has ever withheld stipends meant for Party Officials at the Chapter and Ward levels for whatever reason.
“Attempt to coerce the Local Government dues meant for the running of the Chapter offices.
“Instigating Chapter and Ward Party Officials against the Chapter leadership, thus generating hatred, contempt, ridicule and disrepute on the Party leadership at the respective Local Government Chapters of our Party, contrary to section 21:2(ii & v) of the APC Constitution as amended 26 March, 2022.
“Lopsided allocation of statutory Party funds, leaving the Local Government Areas and Wards comprising of 5,778 Party Officials with N9,200,000 (Nine Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira Only), whereas the State Exco with just 36 members take over N40,000,000 (Forty Million Naira Only). This is gross injustice.
“Refusal to remit the percentage meant for the Local Government Areas and Wards from the sales of forms during the 2023 General Elections and other sundry remittances from the National Secretariat which are unaccountable.
“Anti-progressive, high-handedness, insolent, underrating and transactional approach of the State Party Chairman in party administration”, these were part of the crimes committed by the embattled Party chairman as alleged by the Chairmen and secretaries of the party.
