Battle for Soul of C' River APC As SEC, Chapter Chairmen, Secretary, Ward Officers Take Fight to NWC ...Acting Chairman Summons Meeting
Judex OKORO
The battle for the control of Cross River chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) structure have got to the climax as members of the State Executive Committee (SEC) and Chapter chairmen have passed vote of no confidence on the party chairman, Bar. Alphonsus Eba.
Besides, On November 25, 2025, the 18 Vice chairmen and 196 wards chairmen have backed the call for the resignation of State party chairman, Bar. Alphonsus Eba, over alleged financial impropriety.
In the last couple of weeks, there has been no love lost between Eba and other party officials as well as some critical stakeholders who felt it is high time he left office for fresh hand.
This development has led to series of protest and and some political machinations aimed at raising him out if the way. This has caused disaffection among party stakeholders.
While party stakeholders argue that Eba has not only personalised the office, but is high-handed and distances himself from the realities on ground, a few still argue that Eba deserves some modicum of fair treatment having led the party to victory in 2023 general elections.
How 35 APC Chairmen, Secretaries stoked the fire
The smoldering crisis started when the 35 chapter chairmen and secretaries have called for the immediate resignation of the state party chairman, Bar. Alphonsus Eba, over alleged financial impropriety.
The meeting, convened under the banner of "Forum of APC Chapter Chairmen and Secretaries," alleged that Eba's anti-progressive actions in piloting the party’s affairs in Cross River is destabilizing and destructive
The forum chairman, Chief Kelvin Njong, who read the communique, based their demand for Eba resignation on "high handedness, insolent, underrating, and transactional approach in party administration, accusing the chairman of instigating chapter and ward party officials against the chapter leadership.
"This action generated hatred, contempt, ridicule and disrepute on the Party leadership at the respective Local Government Chapters of our Party, contrary to section 21:2(i1 & v) of the APC Constitution as amended 26" March, 2022," it stated.
Similarly, they further accused him of refusal to remit the percentage meant for the local local government areas and wards from the sales of forms during the 2023 general elections.
According to the communique signed by the 18 chapter chairmen and 17 chapter secretaries, "While the local government areas and wards comprising of 5,778 Party officials were given N9.2 million, the state executive with just 36 members took N40 million.
"This is gross injustice and typical of the chairman. We also have other sundry remittances from the National Secretariat that are unaccounted for."
It also demanded for the immediate payment of all the outstanding stipends of the local government and ward to the chapter chairmen to alleviate their sufferings.
"Going forward, we wish to recommend that the stipends earmarked for the local government and ward party officials should be deducted at source and paid to the chapter chairmen who are leaders of the party and chairmen of caucuses at the local government level.
"We strongly advocate for a review of the sharing formula of the funds accruing to the party. Ideally, this should be shared in the ratio of 70 percent to the local government and wards comprising of 5,778 officials and 30 percent to the state officials that are 36 in number.
"He (Eba) should also be mandated to pay our outstanding percentage arising from the sales of delegates and nomination forms in the 2023 general elections.
"In the overall interest of the unity and progress of our great party, Eba should be mandated to resign honourably due to his anti-progressive actions and tendencies which has affected the party negatively," it stated.
Vice chairmen, 196 wards chairmen take up the gauntlet too
On November 25, 2025, the 18 Vice chairmen and 196 wards chairmen have backed the call for the resignation of State party chairman, Bar. Alphonsus Eba, over alleged financial impropriety.
The Vice and wards executives as well as Forum of Chapter chairmen also unanimously adopted Governor Bassey Otu for Second Term ahead of 2027.
In an unanimous decision reached at by members during a meeting held at Hogis Royale in Calabar on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 , the Forum of Vice chairmen and wards' leaders resolved to fight for their right and better treatment of wards leaders.
SEC Passes Vote of no confidence on state chairman
On Wednesday, November 26, 2025, the State EXecutive Committee (SEC) held a crucial meeting at party secretariat along Murtala Mohammed Highway and deliberated on some allegations leveled against the state chairman by Forum of Chapter chairmen and agreed in unison that it is high time Eba resigned to give peace a chance.
An insider at the meeting told THE BEAGLE NEWS that the motion for Eba's resignation was moved by the Youth leader and was unanimously adopted by majority of the WSC members present.
The source said Eba has been communicated already and possibly may not enter the party secretariat any longer as chairman, adding More than 90 percent of members signed the document asking for his resignation."
Secretariat sealed
The Cross River State All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat have been sealed up by chapter chairmen, secretaries, ward Officers, THE BEAGLE NEWS can authouritatively reveal.
The secretariat located along Murtala Mohammed Highway, was sealed about 11:00 on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. When our reporter visited the secretariat, the gate was under key and lock and looks deserted.
Sealing of the secretariat is the climax of the alleged plot to quietly ease out the party chairman, Bar. Alphonsus Eba, over allegations of financial impropriety as well as lingering power-play.
Sources further revealed that the secretariat may not be open for party activities for quite some time until new state Exco emerges, adding that from the look of things Eba may not access his office again.
Stalwarts React
Reacting to the development, Bar Okoi Obono-Obla, an APC chieftain and former Presidential aide, in a statement made available to THE BEAGLE NEWS, called on the national leadership of the APC to "take cognizance of these developments and to act decisively in the interest of restoring unity, credibility, and confidence in the Party’s structures in Cross River State."
According to Obla, the passing a vote of no confidence on the State Chairman, Barrister Alphonsus Eba, over allegations of financial impropriety as well as the similar one passed by all local government area chapter chairmen and secretaries across the state two weeks ago, represent a clear and coordinated expression of disapproval from critical organs of the Party in Cross River State.
"The repeated votes of no confidence underscore a deepening crisis of trust and legitimacy surrounding the leadership of the State Chairman. They portend that Barrister Eba has lost the confidence of important stakeholders and decision-making structures within the Party.
"As a Party founded on the principles of accountability, transparency, and internal democracy, it is imperative that these concerns be addressed with urgency and fairness. The integrity of the APC in Cross River State depends on the ability of its leadership to uphold the highest standards of probity and to respect the collective voice of its members," he stated.
Party leaders Take Matter to NWC
As at the time of going to the press, THE BEAGLE NEWS has it on good authority that the chairman of Forum of Chapter chairmen, Deputy state chairman and secretary have gone to Abuja to submit the state's position to the national chairman.
Acting chairman emerges
Meanwhile, Ntufam Ekum Ekok Ojogu has emerged as APC Acting State Chairman.
Ntufam Ekum Ekok Ojogu has invited a joint meeting with the State Executive Committee of the party and scheduled for Thursday, December 4, 2025 by 10:00 a.m. at APC State Secretariat.
THE BEAGLE NEWS
