BREAKNG: C' River APC Chapter Chairmen, Secretaries, Ward Stakeholders Barricade Party Secretariat, Lock Out Staff
By Judex OKORO
THE brewing cold war between Cross River State All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum of chapter chairmen and secretaries have continued unabated as the later mobilised other stakeholders and barricades the secretariat to protest unjust treatment meted out to them.
A witness told THE BEAGLE NEWS that the protesters numbering over 30 stormed the party secretariat about 7:00am and locked the entrance gate, thereby preventing staff and some state parry excos from gaining entry into the building located along the Murtala Mohammed Highway, Calabar Municipality..
Among the protesters include members of the Chapter Chairmen and secretaries Forum, and some wards officers.
When THE BEAGE NEWS visited the secretariat, the protesters were in front of gate chanting solidarity songs and carried placards with inscriptions such as "APC C' River Deserve fresh air"; "Chairman, your time is up, you must resign;" "The party can't be starving, while are living large, APC;" "APC is tired of your misdeeds", and "OKADIGBO must go."
Some of the State parry executive members were seen loitering around the secretariat speaking in muddled voices just as leaders of the Forum were seen moving around the party premises dishing out instructions and commanding protesters on next line of action.
One of the protesters, who simply have his name as Emmanuel Asuquo and a ward officer from Akamkpa local government, said: We are here to join our chapter chairmen and secretaries to register our grievances on the way things are going in the party. We are also party officials at the ward levels, and it has not been easy for us even when our party is government."
Another protesters from Akpabuyo, Nyong EFA Nyong, said: "We want change. The State Chairman has not been treating us well even government is releasing money Tk State Exxon to take care of us. We are very hungry. So we are here to say about is enough."
A source at APC secretariat confided in THE BEAGLE NEWS that the State Chairman, Alphonsus Eba, has scheduled an Exco meeting today even as his supporters are equally mobilising to counter the Forum's protest.
Recall that 35 chapter chairmen and secretaries have called for the immediate resignation of the state party chairman, Bar. Alphonsus Eba, over alleged financial impropriety.
The notice for the demand is contained in a statement signed by 35 of the Chairmen and Secretaries at the end of their meeting in Calabar on Tuesday.
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.
