By Abasi Ita
The African Democratic Congress in Cross River State has raised concerns over what it described as a plan by some individuals to illegally take control of the party’s structure in the state.
The allegation was made on Tuesday during a press briefing in Calabar by the party’s Vice Chairman for the Central Senatorial District, McFarlane Ejah, who represented the state chairman, John Oga, currently in Abuja on national party engagements.
Ejah claimed that certain persons who are not recognised members of the party were planning to inaugurate a membership mobilisation, registration and revalidation committee across the 18 local government areas of the state without the approval of the party’s leadership.
He described the move as unconstitutional and a challenge to the existing leadership of the party in the state.
“We strongly condemn the actions of individuals who are not members of our party but are organising meetings in our name. Such actions are morally wrong and unacceptable in a democratic setting,” Ejah said.
According to him, the state leadership of the party was neither consulted nor involved in the selection of individuals listed in the proposed committee.
“The composition of the purported committee is unknown to the leadership of ADC in Cross River State. The state leadership was not consulted before the names were announced,” he added.
Ejah further alleged that those behind the move were largely dissatisfied members of other opposition groups, noting that other political interests that had engaged with the party’s fusion and engagement committee had maintained cordial relations with the leadership.
He maintained that the party in the state remained united and had no faction, stressing that the only recognised leadership is the one headed by the state chairman.
The development follows tension in Calabar after reports of a confrontation between two groups within the party, which prompted the intervention of security agencies.
Sources said officers of the Nigeria Police Force blocked the entrance to a venue where one of the groups had planned to hold a meeting on Tuesday morning.
A source familiar with the situation said the incident was an internal disagreement within the party and not an attempt by the ruling party to suppress the opposition as suggested in some social media reports.
According to the source, police personnel were deployed to maintain peace and prevent any breakdown of law and order.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Cross River State Command, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, advised members of the public to remain calm and go about their lawful activities, noting that the situation was under control.