FROM ONYEKACHUKWU MELUWA, Calabar
Leadership crisis within the All Progressives Congress ,APC, in Cross River State deepened yesterday following the removal of the state party chairman, Barr. Alphonsus Ogar Eba, by the State Working Committee ,SWC, and chapter executives.
His impeachment was announced at the APC state secretariat in Calabar after an emergency meeting convened to address what party officials described as lingering irregularities under his watch.
Eba, who assumed office in October 2021 during the administration of former governor Ben Ayade, was accused of mishandling party finances and running the party in an autocratic manner.
In a communiqué jointly endorsed by SWC members, chapter leaders and other stakeholders, the officials alleged embezzlement, misappropriation of party funds, persistent arrogance, and the failure to pay statutory stipends to party officers.
The impeachment aligns with earlier demands by the Forum of APC Chapter Chairmen, who had repeatedly called for Eba’s removal over what they termed his “consistent neglect” of ward and chapter officials, many of whom had reportedly gone unpaid for over three months.
According to the forum, the failure to meet basic financial obligations had crippled party activities at the grassroots and created low morale among officials across the state.
The motion for Eba’s removal was moved by the State Welfare Secretary, Okara Ekawu, and seconded by the State Treasurer, Dr. Matthew Egom, who both insisted that the committee carried out a thorough investigation before arriving at its decision.
Following the impeachment, Eba was directed to surrender all party assets, documents, and control of the secretariat to the acting chairman pending further directives from the National Executive Committee, NEC.
Reacting on behalf of chapter leaders, the Chairman of the Forum of Chapter Chairmen and Boki LGA Chairman, Kelvin Nyong, said no previous party chairman in the state had ever withheld stipends meant for local officials. He described the crisis as unprecedented and blamed Eba for allegedly creating divisions within the party.
Nyong further accused him of pitching ward and chapter executives against their respective leaders, actions which he said contravene Sections 21:2 (ii & v) of the APC Constitution and destabilised internal party structure.
This is not the first time Eba has faced resistance from within the party. About two years ago, prominent APC members including Chief Peter Higgins and former presidential aide, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, had openly campaigned for his removal over similar allegations.
The latest action comes barely a month after Eba organised a grand reception at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, for former governor Prof. Ben Ayade, where he openly declared loyalty to him and described Ayade as the man who “made him who he is”.
