By Abasi Ita, Calabar
Aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress calling for the removal of the embattled state chairman of the APC,Barr. Alphonsus Eba over perennial electoral defeats suffered by the party in his Yala constituency since he mounted the saddle have suffered a setback.
This follows a reprieve accorded the embattled state chairman of the party arising from a vote of confidence unanimously endorsed by the State Working Committee (SWC) in favour under fired Chairman.
The measure, described by political watches as a temporary relief stemmed from a unanimous voice vote following a motion moved by the State Assistant Secretary, Dr. Matthew Egon, which was seconded by the Welfare Secretary, Hon. Okara Ekawu during an extraordinary SWC meeting convened to review recent upheavals rattling the ruling party in Cross River State.
Briefing journalists at the end of proceedings at the state secretariat on Saturday, the Acting Publicity Secretary of the party, Emmanuel Inyang said: “SWC hinged their stand to their firm belief in the capacity of Barr. Eba to steer the party
to greater heights despite current travails”
The party spokesman described the mounting allegations against Eba as “unfounded, false, and unsubstantiated”
According to him “As a party we are united, we are formidable and confident and are vehemently behind him.”
Findings by The Summit Post News revealed that vote of confidence is coming on the heels of the purported suspension of the embattled chairman provoked by growing calls for resignation spearheaded by a group which calls itself the APC Stakeholders Forum in Cross River.
The Forum had earlier in a petition accused Eba of breaching articles 12.10, 12.12, 12.15,14.1(111), 15.2(1) of the APC constitution by failing to constitute and inaugurate certain organs of the party as provided for by the Constitution for checks and balances , as well as administrative inefficiency, worsen by high-handedness and mounting impunity.
Speaking earlier on his purported suspension Barr. Eba said the aggrieved party members behind his travails were seeking attention , attributing their actions to” the harsh economic realities of the moment, which he maintained has colored their sense of reasoning”
In his words “We know that what may have activated their actions, perhaps is hunger”
He averred that “by the special grace of God, this party is working with the governor, and in the next few days or weeks” am sure we’ll start rolling out appointments and maybe, people like that will get something that will put food on their table and their sense of reasoning will get some level of decency”.
Eba said the fact-finding most of the aggrieved fuelling the crisis in the party have been indicted for alleged anti-party activities in 2023/2024 by a fact-finding committee inaugurated to unravel the immediate and remote factors behind growing electoral woe confronted in Cross River North which has become a fortress of the opposition PDP despite the avalanche of high ranking APC chieftains
“We opted to overlook their anti-party activities, even in the face of the recurrence of such misdemeanors particularly in Obanliku and Yala 11 constituency in the recent re-run which has awoken the consciousness of the party”
Eba said consequently on “February 9, the State Executive Committee, to ensure sanity in this party after receiving complaints from some members set up a disciplinary committee in compliance with article 21. i, ii, iii of the party’s constitution”.
He pointed out that it was regrettable that “people have gone ahead to pass judgment on themselves even when the party has not done so but pointed out that, however, we are guided by the provision of the constitution to do what is just, right, fair and for overall best interest”
He affirmed “the position of the party to bring peace, love, unity, and growth as the foundation which our administration has upheld”
“The only issue constitution threat to the peace, love, and unity in our party is injustice, impunity, and misconduct being perpetuated by those engaging in anti-party activities.
He revealed that the party was in receipt of three additional names of persons accused of anti-party and will stop at nothing to discipline erring members.