LG Congress: Ikom Council Chairman Raises The Alarm As Returning Officer, Efoli, Allegedly Disappear With Election Materials
By Emmanuel AGBOR, (Ikom)
The Ikom Local Government Council Chairman, Mrs. Mercy Nsor, has raised the alarm over the disappearance of the Returning Officer for the chapter congress.
The APC is conducting chapter congresses across the federation today, Saturday, February 21, 2026, to elect its executives at the various local government levels.
However, reports from some local government areas of Cross River State have revealed that certain chapter congresses have already been hijacked by powerful individuals who are allegedly bent on planting their surrogates at the grassroots level of the party structure.
Investigations revealed that, as of the time of filing this report, the Returning Officer, Mr. Abubakar Efoli, was nowhere to be found, even as party members were still waiting for the materials for the congress.
Our reporter, who is on ground, said Efoli was last sighted at the Ikom Police Station, where party stakeholders had gone to resolve issues to ensure the smooth conduct of the congress.
Further investigations revealed that while at the police station, the Returning Officer disappeared to an unknown destination, leaving party members waiting until about 6:00 p.m.
It was also learnt that some prominent stakeholders, reportedly working in tandem with the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Elvert Ayambem, had also left the scene and may have joined Efoli back to Calabar with the materials.
It was discovered that at the police station, the Returning Officer did not come with the congress materials, neither did he appear prepared to conduct a free and fair congress, as he was seen clutching a small envelope.
Reacting to the development, the Ikom Council Chairman, Mrs. Mercy Nsor, confirmed that as of 7:00 p.m., the Returning Officer was nowhere to be found, nor had he communicated the next line of action regarding the congress.
She expressed concern that after stakeholders had agreed on zoning arrangements at a meeting held at Jorany Hotel, Ikom, some individuals were still bent on thwarting the will of the majority for selfish political ambition.
According to her: “Let it be known to the world that there was no congress today in Ikom because the Returning Officer, Mr. Efoli, disappeared into thin air.
“It is very unfortunate that party members were not allowed to exercise their franchise to elect their executives at the chapter level of the party structure. We call on the party leaders not to honour whatever list may be submitted by Efoli, as it does not reflect the will of the people since no congress was held.”
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