2027: Power Struggle Deepens Over C’River Central APC Ticket
By Ekanem Asuquo
Intense political maneuvering has enveloped the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of today’s senatorial primaries for Cross River Central Senatorial District, with rival blocs battling for control of the party’s ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.
At the centre of the contest are the incumbent senator, Eteng Jonah Williams, and the former Commissioner for Special Duties, Oden Ewa, who is said to have the total backing of Governor Bassey Otu and key political actors within the Calabar axis of the party.
Party sources disclosed that while some influential figures in Abuja, including the Presidency, members of the National Assembly, APC governors, ministers and members of the party’s national leadership, are supporting Williams’ re-election bid, forces aligned with the governor are determined to replace him with Ewa.
Supporters of the move against Williams have reportedly cited alleged poor performance by the senator, although some party faithful and constituents dismissed the claim as politically motivated and an attempt to give a dog a bad name on other to hang it.
According to insiders, concern is mounting within the APC over what some stakeholders describe as increasing attempts to impose preferred candidates across the state.
A source within the party alleged that the development had already triggered discontent among party members, especially among serving federal lawmakers seeking return tickets.
The source claimed that the member representing Ikom Boki Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Victor Abang, almost lost his ticket before last minute interventions by senior stakeholders allegedly altered the outcome.
However, the source alleged that other lawmakers were unable to survive the internal political battle. Those reportedly affected include Bassey Akiba of Calabar Municipality/Odukpani, Emil Inyang of Akamkpa/Biase, Mike Etaba representing Etung/Obubra and Godwin Offiono of Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency.
The source also claimed that uncertainty still surrounds the political future of Peter Akpanke of Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku Federal Constituency following the reported emergence of former Bekwarra Council Chairman, Theresa Ushie, from what was described as a parallel primary election.
Insiders further alleged that several prominent figures, including members of the National Assembly, governors and a serving minister, had appealed to Governor Otu to reconsider his stance on the Cross River Central contest in order to prevent a crisis within the party.
According to the source, the battle over the senatorial ticket may also be linked to wider political calculations ahead of the race for the Senate Presidency in 2027.
The source alleged that certain interests within the APC were working to weaken the political structure of Senate President Godswill Akpabio by sidelining individuals believed to be loyal to him, including Williams.
Meanwhile, the APC national leadership has moved to centralize the collation and announcement of results from the National Assembly primaries nationwide in what observers described as an attempt to prevent post primary disputes.
In a memo dated May 17, 2026 and addressed to chairmen of National Assembly Primary Election Committees, the party’s National Organizing Secretary, Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu, directed that all results be transmitted to the party’s national headquarters in Abuja through approved channels.
The directive outlined a process involving ward collation, local government collation and designated constituency collation centres before final submission to the national secretariat.
The APC leadership also prohibited state level committees from independently briefing the media on the outcome of the primaries.
“Any official briefing, where necessary, shall be conducted exclusively in Abuja after the submission of all results,” the memo stated.
Observers believe the measure is aimed at avoiding conflicting declarations of winners and reducing the risk of litigation and internal disputes that often trail party primaries.
With tension rising across Cross River Central, political stakeholders have warned that the outcome of the exercise could either reinforce unity within the APC or deepen existing divisions ahead of the 2027 elections.
