By Asuquo Cletus
The chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Barr. Alphonsus Ogar Eba, has dismissed calls for his resignation by a group of chapter chairmen and secretaries, describing them as individuals “running away from their shadows.”
Eba, who spoke in reaction to a communiqué issued by the Forum of APC Chapter Chairmen and Secretaries calling for his removal over alleged high-handedness and diversion of party funds, accused the aggrieved officials of embezzling over ₦60 million belonging to the party.
The forum, led by Kelvin Njong, Chairman of the APC in Boki Local Government Area, had on November 7 issued a communiqué in Calabar alleging that the state chairman withheld stipends meant for party officials at the chapter and ward levels for three months, diverted party funds, and ran the party “as a private estate.”
But reacting to the claims, Eba described the allegations as “baseless and mischievous,” saying the affected chapter chairmen were being investigated for financial misconduct.
“They embezzled monies meant for ward executives and some chapter executives running over ₦60 million. They must come and give account for that,” he said.
The state chairman explained that the party has since adopted a direct payment system, where stipends are paid straight into the bank accounts of all 5,778 party executives across the state to ensure transparency and eliminate mismanagement.
“We now pay all party executives directly into their accounts, and we have paid all of them up to date. But the 17 chapter chairmen’s salaries are being held until they clear themselves of the fraud alleged against them,” Eba stated.
He further alleged that some chapter chairmen collect over ₦4 million monthly as dues from local government appointees and another ₦3.6 million from other sources but fail to remit or share the funds equitably among other officials at the ward and chapter levels.
“They squander these funds, creating a disproportionate salary structure far higher than what members of the state executive committee earn. This is against the spirit of our administration and our commitment to transparency and accountability,” he added.
Eba maintained that no chapter chairman or group of party officials has the constitutional power to demand the resignation of a state chairman or member of the state executive committee, stressing that the reverse is the case.
“No chapter chairman has the power to call for the resignation of the state chairman or any member of the state executive. On the contrary, the state executive committee has full powers to discipline and sanction them, and this will be done immediately,” he declared.
The crisis comes amid growing tension within the party over internal financial management and control of the state structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Eba reaffirmed his loyalty to the party leader and governor of the state, Bassey Otu, pledging to continue strengthening the APC at all levels for victory in the next election.