The leadership crisis within the Cross River State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has taken a fresh turn as the party’s National Working Committee steps in to calm rising tensions and restore order.
This follows a formal summons issued by the APC National Legal Adviser, Murtala Aliyu Kankia, directing the State Chairman, Barr. Alphonsus Ogar Eba, to appear before the national leadership over allegations raised by the State Executive Committee.
In a letter dated December 4, 2025, Kankia instructed Eba to report to the APC National Secretariat on Monday, December 8, 2025, at 4 p.m. to respond to the vote of no confidence passed by SEC members. He explained that the meeting will give the national leadership an opportunity to hear from Eba directly and ensure that all procedures are properly followed.
The summons comes amid widening factional disputes after majority members of the SEC claimed that “The System” no longer wanted Eba and moved to impeach him. Eba dismissed the development as illegitimate, describing it as “a joke taken too far.”
Last month, Eba similarly rejected calls for his resignation after the Forum of Chapter Chairmen and Secretaries accused him of high-handedness, diversion of party funds, and failure to remit stipends to ward and chapter officials. Eba countered by accusing the same officials of financial misconduct amounting to more than sixty million naira. He insisted that the party now operates a direct payment system to ensure transparency.
According to him, a meeting involving vice chairmen, the women leader, youth leaders and ward chairmen confirmed that some chapter chairmen were diverting funds meant for their colleagues. He said this made it necessary for stipends to be paid directly into the accounts of all five thousand seven hundred and seventy eight party executives across the state. He added that salaries for all party officials are now paid into individual accounts to ensure accountability.
Eba further alleged that some chapter chairmen receive millions of naira monthly from political appointees at the local government level. He also claimed that government funds released to chapter chairmen are often retained by them without being shared with other party officials.
He maintained that no chapter chairman has the constitutional authority to demand the resignation of a state chairman, stressing that disciplinary powers over him lie with the South South Zonal Executive Committee as provided in Article 21.3. (vi) (d).
As accusations and counter accusations continue, the intervention of the National Working Committee is viewed as a move to prevent further escalation and stabilise the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The episode also underscores Eba’s growing influence within the APC. He is a key figure in the ongoing constitution review committee, personally nominated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the February 2025 NEC meeting. He also serves as National Secretary of the Forum of APC State Chairmen and represents the South South in the constitution review process.
Highly regarded by senior party figures, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio who once described him as one of the most active politicians in Nigeria, Eba remains a significant national player.
He insists that the attempt to remove him is politically driven and will fail.
“The process is a joke taken too far. God will speak at the appropriate time,” he said.
With national intervention underway, stakeholders are hopeful that the NWC will restore calm and set the party on the path to reconciliation.
