The silent internal crisis rocking the Cross River State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a volatile turn. Tensions reached a boiling point following the glaring omission of the serving House of Representatives member for Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, Hon. Godwin Offiono, from an official invitation list for a high-profile strategic stakeholders’ meeting.

 

The gathering, convened by the Director-General of the Cross River State APC Campaign Council, Sen. Prof. Stephen A. Odey, is slated for Friday, November 13, 2026, at the Monty Suite in Calabar. According to the convener, the meeting is designed to deliberate on political coordination, stakeholder engagement, and grassroots mobilization ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

However, the conspicuous absence of Hon. Offiono, the incumbent federal lawmaker representing the constituency, has laid bare the deepening fault lines within the party structure.

Background: What Led to the Rift?

The widening gulf between Hon. Offiono and the state APC leadership stems from a bitter fallout over the party’s primary elections:

 

The Primaries Contest: Hon. Offiono contested the APC primary ticket seeking a return ticket to the House of Representatives. However, the electoral contest ended with Dr. Stella Oreme Odey-Ekpo being declared the winner.

 

Allegations of Bias: Displeased with the outcome, Offiono openly accused the party apparatus of bias and manipulation against his candidature.

 

The Legal Battle: Refusing to let the matter rest, the serving lawmaker took legal action, heading to court to challenge the legitimacy of the primary election and contest the emergence of Dr. Odey-Ekpo.

Party insiders reveal that the state leadership and the party machinery grew intensely dissatisfied with the lawmaker’s decision to drag the party through a court battle. His exclusion from the strategic stakeholders’ meeting, where Dr. Odey-Ekpo prominently occupies a prime spot on the Yala I constituency list, is widely viewed by political observers as a direct fallout of this ongoing legal tussle and a test of party loyalty.

Full Meeting Details & Complete List of Invitees

Convened by: Sen. Prof. Stephen A. Odey, Esq. (Director-General, Cross River State APC Campaign Council)

Date: Friday, November 13, 2026

Venue: Monty Suite, Calabar

Time: 6:00 p.m.

The Director-General has also announced that a follow-up strategic meeting will be convened directly within Yala Local Government Area in due course. Below is the complete, unedited list of invited political leaders, party stakeholders, and critical stakeholders across the two state constituencies:

 

1. STAKEHOLDERS – YALA I STATE CONSTITUENCY, YALA LGA

* HE. Rt. Hon. Larry Odey

* Chief Emmanuel Odo

* AVM Clement Ogbeche (Rtd.)

* High Chief Higgins Peters

* Prince Akwaji Offiono (CEO, Global Loaded)

* Hon. Chris Eriba

* Hon. Jude Ogbeche Ngaji

* Hon. Stella Oreme Odey-Ekpo

* Hon. Odey Brian (Member, CRSHA)

* Dr. Mrs. Beatrice Igwe

* Rt. Hon. Regina Anyogo

* Hon. Chief Godwin Odama (Vice Chairman, Yala LGA)

* Hon. Mary Eje (Leader, Yala Legislative Council)

* Dr. Gabe Onah

* Hon. Matthew Ojugbo

* Hon. Tom Agi

* Dr. Gabriel Egbe

* Hon. John Eyikwaje

* Chief Mrs. Theresa Ezama

* Hon Barr. Fabian O Ogbeche

* Hon. Solomon Ogar (Yala APC Chapter Chairman)

* Chief O.C. Bravo

* Controller Joe Ochelebe (Rtd.)

* Hon. Chief Boniface Okache

* Hon. Moses Ogble

* Hon. Sunday Oko

* Hon. David Idiku

* Hon. Joe Idu

* Mr. John Ochala

* Hon. Ojiho Sunday

* Hon. Mathias Oko

* Hon. Mary Ofie Odey

* Hon. John Ogabor

* Hon. Otanya Odey

* Hon. John Monday Odo (CEO, Odonah Pharmacy)

* Hon. Gabriel Bravo Oluohu

* Engr. Cosmas Oloko

* Barr. Richard Ogbeche

* Chief Ogbuole Agi

* Dr. Barr. Roland Ipuole

* Dr. Augustine Eba

* Barr. Leonard Anyogo

* Barr. Fabian Odey

* Mr. Eddy Achi

* Mr. Augustine Ibu (Gen. Wonor)

* Mr. Omaga Odo

* Mr. Francis Ekpo

* Mr. Simon Adogba

* Sir Joe Onah Odey

* Elder Gabriel Omaji

* Christopher Ogar

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* Mr. Francis Peters

* Engr. Ben Ogede

* Engr. Tony Ajinya

* Prince Simon Ube

* Mr. Innocent Odey (Kaycee)

* Mr. Benard Okori

* Chief (Mrs) Angela Ogeyi Odey

* Madam Philomena Ihieje

* Felicia Edema

* Gina Opoji

* Mr. Williams Onah Edrah

* Mr. John Odo

* Hon. Ody Patrick Omagu

* Hon. Johnson Ogri

* Dr. Ebriku John Friday

* HY. Francis Finian Offionor

* Mr. Matthew Okache

* HY. Patrick Wonah

* HY. Frank Alim Okpe

* Hon. David Ipuole

 

2. STAKEHOLDERS – YALA II STATE CONSTITUENCY, YALA LGA

* Prof. Mike Okom

* Dr. Ochim Julius Okputu

* Dr. Hippolatus Lukpata

* Rt. Hon. Ogana Lukpata

* Hon. Dr. Martins Ogiji Achadu (Member, CRSHA)

* Hon. Dr. Fred Okem (Executive Chairman, Yala LGA)

* Rt. Hon. Dr. John Onoh Ulafor

* Dr. Henry Onwe

* Hon. Mom Olom

* Hon. Mike Usibe

* Amb. Chief Emmanuel Assegem

* Hon. Christian Ikiri

* Hon. Francis Ulakom

* Hon. Gabe Usibe

* Hon. Solomon Ubut

* Hon. Cyprian Uneji

* Hon. Emmanuel Achadu

* Hon. Fabian Igbiri

* Hon. Isaac Okpokpo

* Hon. Denis Egere

* Hon. Godwin Igelle

* Hon. Grace Unah

* Hon. Christopher Ejaki

* Hon. Marcelenius Ochuode

* Hon. Christian Ede

* Hon. Solomon Ada

* Hon. Joseph Egwa

* Hon. Joseph Ijoko

* Dr. Christopher Lukpata

* Dr. Stephen Ogbudu

* Dr. Stephen Eguba

* Dr. Solomon Ugo

* Dr. John Inaku

* Dr. Clement Alegu

* Barr. Denis Ochim

* Miss Beatrice Akpala

* Mrs. Elimma Paulina Ujiji

* Mr. Dominic Uloko

* Mr. Ben Lukpata

* Mr. Stephen Okpako

* Mr. Pius Ude

* Mr. John Agbeze

* Mr. Benjamin Owalum Achadu

* Mr. Peter Okpako Onah

* Mr. John Ngwu

* Mr. Francis Dan

* Mr. Patrick Ogana (Papa Ikong)

* Mr. Victor Owalum

* Mr. Ekimbe Paul Daniel

* Mr. Luke Inaku

* Mr. Augustine Egere

* Mr. Magnus Ochim Dan

* Mr. Kieran Ebi Ekwok