Cold War in C'River APC As Stakeholders Suspend Party Chairman, Eba, Appoints Alicha As Replacement. ...I'm Still in Charge, Says Eba
By Victor UDU
Cold war is brewing in Cross River State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) as Stakeholders Forum has allegedly suspended the state party chairman, Bar. Alphonsus Eba, and called for his immediate resignation.
The Forum in a statement made available to THE BEAGLE NEWS said it has appointed one Mr James Alicha Okpamu as acting state chairman of APC pending his ratification.
A petition from the party Stakeholders Forum said the decision is to stop imminent agitations and possible breakdown of law and order.
James Alicha Okpamu
The petition signed by the chairman, Nomba Ayo, and Secretary, Mark Ake, said their decision was in line with the provision of article 21 (1) (11) and 21.3 (1) of the APC constitution 2022 as amended. The Forum accused Eba of breaching articles 12.10 state caucus, 12.12 senatorial district caucus,12. 15 , local government area caucus, and 14.1( III), power of the state Chairman and 15.2 (I) of the Party's constitution 2022.
He was accused of refusal to constitute the above organs of the party and of being high handed and treating other party members as inferior.
The petition recalled the poor outing of the party at the general and just concluded bye elections especially the abysmal performance in Eba's Local government area and called for his immediate suspension and resignation if the party must achieve its goals, vision and objectives.
He was accused of "operating as a sole administrator and arbitrary acting on his whims and caprices without subjecting his plans to informed advice" Accordingly the petition stated in part: "In the light of the above the Chairman lacks the required temperament and disposition and thereby incapable of providing the quality of leadership our party deserves.
Bar Alphonsus Ogar Eba is by this notice directed to stay off the secretariat of the party henceforth".
Reacting to his purported suspension, Eba said the forum is illegal and was used by those to appear before the disciplinary committee to seek attention.
He said: "I have told them that nothing will deter us, they should appear before the committee to clear their use names. For now I am still in charge."
