Fresh Twist as Eteng Camp Rejects Odey’s Reconciliation Claim
By Ekanem ASUQUO
Fresh controversy has emerged over the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial ticket for Cross River Central following the rejection by supporters of Senator Eteng Jonah Williams of claims by the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, that the dispute had been amicably resolved.
The fresh disagreement followed a statement issued by Odey on Monday, in which he disclosed that a reconciliation meeting convened at his residence at the instance of Governor Bassey Otu had settled the disagreement over the party’s senatorial ticket and that all pending court cases arising from the dispute had been withdrawn.
The deputy governor also urged party faithful in the district to close ranks and support the APC’s senatorial candidate, Hon. Oden Ewa, ahead of the 2027 general election.
However, authoritative sources familiar with the reconciliation process have challenged the deputy governor’s position, insisting that consultations are still at a preliminary stage and that the legal action instituted by Senator Eteng Williams remains pending before the Federal High Court.
According to the sources, the peace initiative only produced an initial round of discussions between the parties, with no final agreement reached on the contentious issues. They further maintained that no official photographs were taken during the meeting, contrary to impressions created by images currently circulating on social media.
Investigations indicate that the suit filed by Senator Williams challenging the outcome of the disputed APC senatorial primary for Cross River Central is scheduled for hearing on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The sources also insisted that the senator has neither withdrawn the suit nor indicated any immediate intention to do so.
Speaking in a telephone interview on Monday night, a member of the Eteng for 2027 support group, Comrade Emmanuel Ikpi, alleged that the process which produced Hon. Oden Ewa as the APC candidate did not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
“The process that purportedly produced Oden Ewa as the APC flag bearer cannot withstand the provisions of the law and the amended Electoral Act. The hurried circulation of what we consider fabricated statements alleging that Senator Eteng has withdrawn the case amounts to propaganda and emotional blackmail,” Ikpi said.
He further alleged that substantial resources had been deployed in an attempt to legitimise what he described as the imposition of candidates, warning that grievances arising from the party’s primary election could further deepen divisions within the APC if not properly addressed.
Ikpi disclosed that while Senator Williams was urged during the meeting to withdraw all court cases arising from the primary election, he merely undertook to consult with his supporters before taking a decision.
“Shortly after the meeting, we were surprised to see reports on social media suggesting that the matter had been resolved and that the court cases had been withdrawn,” he added.
Further findings revealed that the photograph being circulated in connection with the purported reconciliation meeting was taken in 2023 and bears no relationship to the latest peace efforts.
The latest development has heightened political interest in the APC’s Cross River Central senatorial ticket, with stakeholders expressing divergent views over the reconciliation process.
Despite the peace initiative, a source close to Senator Williams maintained that he remains committed to pursuing the matter to its logical conclusion, notwithstanding what his supporters described as attempts to pressure him into abandoning the case.
Meanwhile, some supporters of the senator who spoke with this reporter expressed dissatisfaction over what they described as discreet moves to deny him a second-term ticket, insisting that any attempt to negotiate away what they consider his mandate would be unacceptable.
