By Peter Omopo
The internal crisis rocking the Cross River State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has intensified, prompting the party’s National Working Committee to step in with measures aimed at restoring order and upholding due process.
The intervention follows a formal summons issued by the APC National Legal Adviser, Murtala Aliyu Kankia, directing the embattled State Chairman, Alphonsus Ogar Eba, to appear before the national leadership over allegations levelled against him by members of the State Executive Committee.
The SEC had recently passed a vote of no confidence on Eba and announced his removal from office. In his place, Ntufam Ekum Ojogu was unveiled as acting chairman at the APC state secretariat in Calabar — a development earlier reported by PUNCH Online.
NWC Summons Eba to Abuja
In a letter dated December 4, 2025, and released to journalists on Friday in Calabar, the National Legal Adviser instructed Eba to appear at the APC National Secretariat, Abuja, on Monday, December 8, 2025, at 4 pm.
Kankia said the meeting would allow the national leadership to hear directly from Eba and ensure that all procedures relating to the vote of no confidence are handled in line with the party constitution.
The letter stated:
“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.
“You are invited to a meeting as follows: Monday December 8, 2025, at the Office of the National Legal Adviser, APC National Secretariat, Abuja by 4 pm.
“The meeting is convened strictly for the purpose of hearing from you directly and ensuring due process is followed in handling the issues raised by the State Executive Committee.”
Tensions Rise Amid Factional Battle
The latest move by the NWC comes amid heightened factional tensions, following claims by some SEC members that “The System” had withdrawn support for Eba’s leadership.
However, Eba dismissed his purported impeachment as unconstitutional, describing it as “a joke taken too far.”
Only last month, the Forum of Chapter Chairmen and Secretaries similarly demanded his resignation, accusing him of high-handedness, diversion of party funds, and failure to pay stipends to chapter and ward officials.
Eba rejected the allegations, accusing his critics of financial misconduct involving over ₦60 million.
He explained that the APC in Cross River has since adopted a direct payment system for all 5,778 party executives across the state to prevent diversion of funds.
Eba Defends His Position
The chairman insisted that chapter chairmen lack constitutional powers to seek his resignation, citing Article 21.3 (vi)(d) of the APC Constitution, which places disciplinary authority over a state chairman solely under the South South Zonal Executive Committee.
He further asserted that the recent attempt to remove him was politically motivated and bound to fail.
“The process is a joke taken too far. God will speak at the appropriate time,” he said.
Political Implications Ahead of 2027 Elections
Eba’s growing prominence within the APC has also been highlighted amid the crisis.
He is a key member of the party’s ongoing constitution review committee and was personally nominated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the February 2025 NEC meeting.
He also serves as National Secretary of the Forum of APC State Chairmen and represents the South South zone in the constitution review process.
Political analysts believe the NWC intervention marks a decisive effort to prevent further escalation and stabilise the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
With the national leadership now mediating, party stakeholders are expressing cautious optimism that the escalating feud may soon give way to reconciliation and renewed internal cohesion.
