By Abasi Ita
Strong indications have emerged that the Chairman of Obudu Local Government Council, Hon. Peter Akonfe Udiandeye, may emerge as the next Chairman of the Cross River State chapter of the All Progressives Congress at the party’s state congress scheduled for Saturday, March 8, 2026.
Party insiders say the APC inner caucus in the state has largely agreed on Udiandeye, barring any last minute political realignments.
The national leadership of the APC had earlier released the timetable for its congresses, fixing ward congresses for Wednesday, February 18, 2026, local government congresses for Friday, February 20, 2026, the state congress for Saturday, March 8, 2026, and the zonal congress for Saturday, March 21, 2026.
The local government congresses are expected to elect three delegates, including at least one female, to represent each local government at the party’s national convention.
Following the removal of the former state chairman, Barrister Alphonsus Eba, and the release of the congress schedule, consultations reportedly intensified within the APC leadership in the state to identify a replacement considered credible, grassroots driven and broadly acceptable.
A source close to Government House disclosed that a committee working quietly behind the scenes recommended Udiandeye as the preferred candidate, subject to the absence of any unexpected change in political calculations.
According to the source, Governor Bassey Otu and other influential stakeholders from the Northern Senatorial District agreed that retaining the chairmanship position in the North was politically necessary, especially after the exit of Eba, who hails from Yala Local Government Area.
The chairmanship position was subsequently micro zoned to Bedia Ward in Obudu Local Government Area, Udiandeye’s ward. Obudu is also the local government area of former Governor Ben Ayade.
Bedia Ward has produced several notable personalities, including the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Emmanuel Udiandeye.
Sources also indicated that the current state secretary of the party may retain his position. He is from Calabar Municipality and is said to enjoy the confidence of the governor.
Investigations revealed that Governor Otu and members of his inner circle are consulting party elders and key stakeholders across the state on the proposed emergence of Udiandeye as chairman and the possible retention of the current secretary.
If the consultations are successful, the state congress scheduled for March 8 is expected to be largely ceremonial, serving as an endorsement of the agreed candidates.
It was further gathered that the Obudu council chairman has been informed of the plan and advised to begin preparations for handing over to his vice chairman. Sources close to Udiandeye said he has described the task ahead as a major responsibility and has urged his associates to pray for him.
The development has, however, sparked mixed reactions within Obudu. Supporters of former Governor Ben Ayade are reportedly unhappy with the zoning of the chairmanship position to Obudu and the apparent narrowing of the choice to Udiandeye, claiming it could weaken Ayade’s chances of contesting the party’s senatorial primary.
They argue that producing both the state party chairman and a senator from the same local government area would be politically difficult.
One of Ayade’s supporters, Gabriel Akomaye, alleged that the zoning arrangement was designed to sideline the former governor and other Obudu indigenes with senatorial ambitions.
“Zoning the party chairmanship to Obudu complicates our leader’s chances. It appears to be a calculated move by the political strategists around the governor to edge out Ayade and other Obudu aspirants,” he said.
Conversely, some party members have welcomed the move. Justine Agba from Obudu Urban said the zoning decision reflected the governor’s willingness to address calls from leaders in the Northern Senatorial District for inclusiveness ahead of the 2027 elections.
He noted that if the arrangement is sustained and Udiandeye emerges as chairman, Obudu would support the governor’s leadership, while urging that wider consultations be carried out to prevent internal divisions within the party.