The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State is currently embroiled in a crisis following a call by 35 chapter chairmen and secretaries for the immediate resignation of the state party chairman, Alphonsus Eba Esq., over alleged financial impropriety.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The meeting, convened under the banner of “Forum of APC Chapter Chairmen and Secretaries,” alleged that Eba’s anti-progressive actions in piloting the party’s affairs in Cross River are destabilizing and destructive.

 

The forum chairman, Chief Kelvin Njong, who read the communique, based their demand for Eba’s resignation on “high-handedness, insolence, underrating, and transactional approach in party administration, accusing the chairman of instigating chapter and ward party officials against the chapter leadership.

 

“This action generated hatred, contempt, ridicule, and disrepute on the Party leadership at the respective Local Government Chapters of our Party, contrary to section 21:2(i1 & v) of the APC Constitution as amended 26 March, 2022,” it stated.

 

Similarly, they further accused him of refusing to remit the percentage meant for the local government areas and wards from the sales of forms during the 2023 general elections.

 

According to the communique, “While the local government areas and wards comprising 5,778 Party officials were given N9.2 million, the state executive with just 36 members took N40 million.

 

“This is a gross injustice and typical of the chairman. We also have other sundry remittances from the National Secretariat that are unaccounted for.”

 

It demanded the immediate payment of all outstanding stipends owed to the local government and ward chapter chairmen to alleviate their suffering.

 

“Going forward, we wish to recommend that the stipends earmarked for the local government and ward party officials should be deducted at source and paid to the chapter chairmen who are leaders of the party and chairmen of caucuses at the local government level.

 

“We strongly advocate for a review of the sharing formula of the funds accruing to the party.

 

“Ideally, this should be shared in the ratio of 70 percent to the local government and wards, comprising 5,778 officials, and 30 percent to the state officials, who are 36 in number.

 

“He (Eba) should also be mandated to pay our outstanding percentage arising from the sales of delegates and nomination forms in the 2023 general elections.

 

“In the overall interest of the unity and progress of our great party, Eba should be mandated to resign honourably due to his anti-progressive actions and tendencies which have affected the party negatively,” it stated.

 

The forum concluded that they remain committed to the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Bassey Otu in 2027.

 

The communique was signed by the 18 chapter chairmen and 17 chapter secretaries of the Cross River APC. The forum comprises 18 chapter Chairmen and 18 chapter Secretaries of the APC in the state.

 

In a swift reaction, the State Chairman of the APC, Alphonsus Eba, told Vanguard that the people accusing him of financial Misappropriation were running away from their own shadows and had no power to call for his resignation.

 

His words: “They are running away from their shadow. They embezzled funds meant for ward executives and some chapter Executives, running into over #60 million naira.

 

“They must come and give an account for that. We now pay the salaries of all party Executives, numbering 5,778, directly into their accounts, and we have paid all of them up to date. However, the 17 chapter chairmen’s salaries are being held until they clear themselves of the alleged fraud against them.

 

“Chapter chairmen collect LGA appointees’ dues of more than 4 million monthly and squander without taking care of other Excos at the Chapter and ward level.

 

“They collect 3,600,000 from some quarters and squander, causing a disproportionate salary structure that is in excess of what State Executive Committee members earn.

 

“This is against the spirit of our administration and our commitment for transparency and accountability.

 

“No chapter chairman has the power to call for the resignation of the State Chairman or State Executive Committee member; on the contrary, the state executive committee has full powers to discipline and sanction them, and this will be done immediately,” Eba said.