OPINION: Factionalism, Decay in APC Cross River State

 By Okoi Obono-Obla

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State is in disarray. The party has split into various factions and each locked in bitter conflict due to dictatorship, sidelining of stakeholders, divide-and-rule tactics, imposition, garrison-style democracy, and the concentration of power within a secret cabal.  

The purported primaries in Yakurr on Saturday, May 17, 2026 laid bare this division. 

Only the faction controlled by two individuals in power at the Local Government and State level participated. From my research, what transpired in Yakurr is symptomatic of the wider decay within the party in Cross River State. Injustice, despotism, lack of consultation, and undemocratic practices have eroded the party’s credibility and unity.  

This trend is replicated across the state. How can a party so divided hope to contest a general election in just eight months? Leadership failures from top to bottom have destroyed cohesion and trust. Unless genuine reconciliation is urgently embarked upon, the APC in Cross River State risks irrelevance and electoral defeat.  

 No doubt, the Yakurr primaries serve as a warning sign. Without inclusivity, consultation, and transparent leadership, the APC may find itself unable to withstand the pressures of the forthcoming general election. The time for reconciliation is now, or the party risks collapse.

 Okoi Obono-Obla is an APC Stalwart and former Presidential Aide