The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) is working to respect due process and restore order in the Cross River State chapter, but the issue has taken a new turn.
The intervention came when Murtala Aliyu Kankia, the APC’s National Legal Advisor, formally summoned Alphonsus Eba, the State Chairman, to address the party’s national leadership on accusations made by State Executive Committee (SEC) members.
It was known that Eba had been dismissed from office by the SEC, which had already issued a vote of no confidence in him. At the party’s secretariat in Calabar, Ntufam Ekum Ojogu was appointed as acting chairman in his place.
Kankia instructed Eba to show up at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja on Monday, December 8, 2025, at 4 p.m. in a letter dated December 4, 2025, that was made accessible to journalists in Calabar.
“I write to formally notify you of a meeting scheduled to address the vote of no confidence passed on you by members of the Cross River State Executive Committee,” said part of the message.
“You are invited to a meeting in order to hear directly from you and ensure due process is followed in handling the issues raised, in accordance with the need to clarify the circumstances surrounding the development and to ensure that your response is duly documented.”
According to reports, certain SEC members were informed that “The System no longer wanted Eba to remain in office,” which is why the NWC took this action. But Eba said that his alleged dismissal was unlawful and an excessive joke.
Additionally, Eba turned down resignation requests from the Forum of Chapter Chairmen and Secretaries last month. They accused him of being arrogant, misusing funds, and failing to pay stipends.
Eba responded by claiming that certain officials had engaged in financial malfeasance involving more over N60 million. In order to stop money from being diverted, he pointed out that the party had implemented a direct payment system for all 5,778 executives throughout the state.
Eba said that the constitutional power to seek his resignation is not available to chapter chairmen. He emphasized that the only body with disciplinary authority over a state chairman is the South South Zonal Executive Committee, citing Article 21.3 (vi) (d) of the APC Constitution.
He declared, “They are fleeing from their shadows,” accusing his rivals of following a political agenda.
Despite the scandal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nominated Eba to join the constitution revision committee at the February 2025 NEC meeting, making him a significant player in the APC. In addition, he represents the South South geographical zone in the Forum of APC State Chairmen as National Secretary.
In response to the current state of affairs, Eba insisted that the measures taken against him “will not stand,” saying, “The process is a joke taken too far.” When the time is right, God will speak.
As the national leadership aims to reduce tensions and guide the chapter toward reconciliation ahead of the 2027 general elections, party stakeholders are hopeful that a truce may be negotiated shortly with the NWC taking over.
