JUST IN: Crisis Breaks Out in Cross River APC as 35 Chapter Chairmen, Secretaries Demand Alphonsus Eba’s Resignation
The demand was contained in a communiqué signed by the officials at the end of their meeting held Tuesday in Calabar under the umbrella of the Forum of APC Chapter Chairmen and Secretaries
…..“very stupid people” —Eba fires back at aggrieved chairmen
A major crisis has broken out within the Cross River State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as 35 chapter chairmen and secretaries have demanded the immediate resignation of the State Chairman, Barr. Alphonsus Eba, over allegations of financial misconduct and divisive leadership.
The demand was contained in a communiqué signed by the officials at the end of their meeting held Tuesday in Calabar under the umbrella of the Forum of APC Chapter Chairmen and Secretaries.
Reading the communiqué, Forum Chairman, Chief Kelvin Njong, said Eba’s “high-handedness, insolence, underrating attitude, and transactional approach to party administration” were destabilizing the party. He accused the chairman of instigating conflicts between ward officials and their chapter leadership.
According to the communiqué, Eba’s actions have “generated hatred, contempt, ridicule and disrepute” toward the party’s leadership at the local government level—conduct they say violates Section 21:2 (ii & v) of the APC Constitution (as amended in March 2022).
Financial Mismanagement Alleged
The forum further accused Eba of refusing to remit funds meant for local government and ward structures from the sale of nomination and delegate forms during the 2023 general elections.
“While the local government areas and wards, comprising 5,778 party officials, received only ₦9.2 million, the state executive with just 36 members took ₦40 million,” the communiqué alleged.
“This is gross injustice and typical of the chairman. We also have other sundry remittances from the National Secretariat that are unaccounted for.”
Following the allegations, the forum demanded Eba’s resignation and the immediate payment of outstanding stipends owed to ward and local government officials.
Forum Recommends New Funding Structure
To prevent future financial disputes, the forum proposed that all stipends due to local government and ward officials be deducted at source and paid directly through chapter chairmen.
They also recommended a new sharing formula for party revenue—70 percent to the local government/ward officials and 30 percent to the state executive.
“Eba should also be mandated to pay our outstanding percentage from the sales of delegates and nomination forms for the 2023 elections,” the forum stated, insisting the chairman’s removal was necessary “in the overall interest of the unity and progress of the party.”
The communiqué was signed by 18 chapter chairmen and 17 secretaries, though the forum comprises 18 chairmen and 18 secretaries.
Forum Leaders Speak
Comrade Odama Thomas Odama, Bekwarra Chapter Chairman and Head of Operations of the Forum, said the communiqué “captures the true reflection of the state of our party.”
Similarly, Forum Secretary William Book said the move was not a witch-hunt but an effort to restore order.
“It is out of place for the party chairman to withhold dues meant for party officials. We met with him several times on these lingering issues, but he refused to address them. Thus, this call for his resignation.”
Eba Fires Back
Reacting in a telephone interview, State Chairman Alphonsus Eba dismissed the group’s allegations and described the aggrieved officials as “very stupid people.”
He said the revolt was a backlash from officials resisting efforts to instill discipline.
“You know, when you are trying to make sure that things work very well, people resort to calling you names. I have grown beyond that,” he said.
Eba alleged that some party officials had been diverting stipends meant for their colleagues at ward levels. He claimed he discovered the misappropriation after issuing a payment template that was allegedly ignored.
“They defaulted in following that template and only for me to discover that each of those people has been embezzling small stipends that should go to their own colleagues,” he said.
Eba insisted the rebellion “cannot distract us because we are focused and determined to instill discipline in the party.”
Support for Tinubu, Otu Maintained
Despite the internal conflict, the forum reaffirmed its commitment to the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Bassey Otu in 2027.
