Alleged strikes by the All Progressives Congress, APC chairman, Alphonsus Eba, to impose former governor Ben Ayade because the get together’s senatorial candidate for Cross River North in 2027 has additional deepened discontent inside the Cross River State chapter.
Eba’s alleged curiosity in presumably renewing his candidacy for the chairmanship has reportedly additionally brewed anger amongst the chapter chairmen who’re mentioned to be uncomfortable together with his management.
This will likely have additionally knowledgeable why the 18 APC chapter chairmen and secretaries met and issued a communique alleging Eba’s corruption and different misdemeanours few days in the past and known as for his resignation.
Additional to requires his resignation, yesterday, indignant get together members blocked entry to the state get together secretariat in Calabar in protest, accusing the chairman of manipulating get together buildings to favour Ayade.
Stakeholders expressed concern that the transfer may destabilize the get together, significantly after Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe’s defection from the PDP to the APC, an occasion many described as a serious increase for the ruling get together within the northern district, which was dominated by the opposition PDP.
They allege that Eba’s loyalty to Ayade stems from political gratitude, as he had as soon as admitted the previous governor gave him a platform to rise in politics — a cause he organised a grand welcome for Ayade on his return to the state final weekend.
Reacting to the event, Dr Joseph Odok, a public affairs analyst and lecturer on the College of Calabar, expressed fear that any try and foist Ayade on the get together would backfire.
“The try and foist former Governor Sir Benedict Ayade as APC’s northern senatorial candidate is a boomerang with catastrophic penalties,” Odok mentioned.
“The state chairman shouldn’t be seen as central to any plot to impose private preferences on the get together, as alleged by the chapter chairmen who’ve moved for his suspension.”
He described Senator Jarigbe’s entry into the APC as a “well timed lifeline,” noting that the get together within the North was nearly inactive earlier than his defection.
“It’s humorous and harmful,” he mentioned, “that as a substitute of embracing Jarigbe’s recognition, some loyal to the chairman seem uncomfortable, which is inimical to the get together’s progress.”
Odok additional known as for pressing inside reforms to strengthen inclusivity, transparency, and accountability inside the get together.
“The present construction nonetheless bears Ayade’s imprint,” he mentioned, urging a realignment that displays Governor Bassey Otu’s management and the pursuits of newly defected stakeholders with grassroots attraction.
Eba, nonetheless, dismissed the allegations and requires his resignation as politically motivated.
He accused the chapter chairmen of embezzling over ₦60 million meant for ward and chapter executives, insisting they had been “operating away from their shadows.”
“They need to vomit the cash they embezzled,” Eba mentioned defiantly.
