Cross River: Tension in Ikom as Stakeholders Divided over Alleged Plot to Remove Council Chairman

By Bassey BASSEY

Tension is mounting in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State as stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress are sharply divided over an alleged plot to remove the council chairman, Mrs Mercy Nsor, over accusations bordering on poor governance and alleged insensitivity to the needs of the electorate.

The development, coming barely weeks before the party’s congresses, has heightened anxiety within the local political space, with fears that lingering rivalries among key stakeholders may resurface and deepen divisions.

Recall that during the last local government elections, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem, and former Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, reportedly disagreed over who should emerge as council chairman. The impasse was eventually resolved through the intervention of Governor Bassey Otu, who opted for a consensus candidate in Mrs Nsor, a decision said not to have fully satisfied the contending interests, although they agreed to work with her.

Recent events suggest that the underlying disagreements may be re emerging. Stakeholders believed to be loyal to the Speaker have accused the chairman of marginalisation, favouritism, insubordination, high handedness and alleged financial impropriety.

However, other stakeholders aligned with the chairman have faulted the allegations, describing them as trumped up charges allegedly aimed at forcing her out of office. They warned that any attempt to remove the chairman could further polarise Ikom politics.

Investigations by The Beagle News revealed that some stakeholders loyal to the Speaker have in recent days convened a series of meetings, inviting the council chairman to respond to concerns over policy directions and financial matters raised by some leaders in the area.

One of such meetings was reportedly convened by the Speaker on Saturday, January 17, and Sunday, January 18, 2026, in Ikom, with the aim of resolving what were described as irreconcilable differences among stakeholders.

Sources said the council chairman boycotted the meetings, allegedly out of fear that they could be used to ambush her politically and set the stage for calls for her suspension and eventual impeachment.

Her absence from the meetings has reportedly heightened tensions, with some quarters accusing her of disrespect and disloyalty, while threats of impeachment have allegedly followed.

The strained relationship between the Speaker and the chairman is said to date back to the process that led to her emergence, following the collapse of earlier efforts by the Speaker to install a preferred candidate.

Although the Speaker is said to have nominated the Vice Chairman, Hon Maurice Ekpando, sources within the chairman’s camp alleged that the council has known little peace since then. They accused the vice chairman of acting as a destabilising force and allegedly working with some councillors to initiate impeachment proceedings against the chairman.

A stakeholder, Comrade Emmanuel Agbor, said the chairman had done nothing wrong to warrant her removal.

“As far as we are concerned, the chairman has done no wrong to our knowledge. She has been making efforts to carry everyone along, including councillors,” he said.

“What is happening is a power play among some stakeholders ahead of the party congresses and primaries. It is wrong for the Speaker to summon a stakeholders’ meeting without the consent of the local government chairman.

“The chairman deserves respect and should not be treated like an aide. We will resist any move to impeach or suspend her simply because she did not attend a meeting convened without due consultation. She should be allowed to concentrate on delivering dividends of democracy to the people.”

Another stakeholder, Barrister Chris Agara, said he was unaware of any stakeholders’ meeting.

“I was not invited to any such meeting and I am not aware of it. If there are allegations against the chairman, she should be given a fair opportunity to respond rather than resorting to impeachment threats being circulated on social media,” he said.

Reacting to the allegations, the Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr Matthew Okache, denied claims that Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem was plotting the removal of the council chairman.

According to him, the Speaker has been making efforts to mediate and resolve the issues amicably.

“The Speaker is not plotting to remove the chairman. In fact, he has been trying to intervene and plead on her behalf so that issues raised can be resolved peacefully,” Okache said.

He explained that the stakeholders’ meeting was a follow up to earlier engagements held about two weeks earlier to address unresolved concerns.

“At the meeting, it was resolved that the chairman should clarify certain issues. The Speaker has been playing a fatherly role in trying to bring peace. Rather than appreciating this effort, he is being accused of plotting impeachment. There is nothing of such,” he added.

THE BEAGLE NEWS