Governor Bassey Otu has finally moved to assert control over the simmering leadership crisis within the Cross River State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, signalling a more decisive political posture as the party navigates growing internal discontent ahead of the 2027 elections.
The governor convened a closed meeting on Thursday with the 35 APC chapter chairmen and secretaries from the 18 local government areas, many of whom staged a protest at the state secretariat earlier in the week. The session, which lasted several hours, was attended by Deputy Governor Peter Odey and Chief of Staff Emmanuel Ironbar, underscoring the seriousness with which the administration views the turmoil within the ruling party.
Sources at Government House confirmed that the governor used the meeting to assess the grievances directly from the chapter officers, many of whom accused the state leadership of financial irregularities and administrative misconduct.
Several immediate decisions were reportedly reached, including a renewed commitment to consistent payment of monthly stipends to local government party officers.
An official who witnessed the discussions said Governor Otu expressed surprise at the depth of the complaints and assured the delegates that he would set up an investigative committee to scrutinise the allegations and recommend appropriate action.
The governor was said to have appealed for unity, urging party officers to prioritise cohesion as the APC prepares for the next electoral cycle.
“He handled the matter with maturity and gave us confidence that the issues will be resolved without bias,” the source said. “The governor praised the chapter chairmen for maintaining order and reaffirmed his commitment to stabilising the party before, during, and after the 2027 elections.”
The protesting chairmen reportedly pledged their loyalty to the governor and vowed to work with him to strengthen party structures across the state.
The leadership dispute escalated on Tuesday when the Forum of APC Chapter Chairmen and Secretaries publicly called for the resignation of State Chairman Alphonsus Ogar Eba, accusing him of high-handedness, financial opacity, and a transactional approach to administration. The forum, led by Chief Kelvin Njong, claimed that funds from the sale of nomination forms during the 2023 elections were not properly remitted, alleging that while ward and local government officials received only ₦9.2 million, the 36-member State Executive Committee took ₦40 million.
They also accused the chairman of failing to account for additional remittances from the party’s national secretariat, describing the situation as unjust and damaging to party morale.
Eba has denied all allegations, insisting that the chairmen themselves mismanaged ₦60 million allocated to ward and chapter executives in 2023. His response has further heightened tensions, culminating in Tuesday’s blockade of the APC Secretariat by the aggrieved officers, who carried placards demanding his immediate exit.
With Governor Otu now stepping in, political observers say the party may finally be on the path to a managed resolution. However, the outcome of the promised investigative process will determine whether the APC in Cross River enters the 2027 contest united or further fractured by internal rivalries.