BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – Despite the gains made from the defections of political opponents, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State is currently tearing itself apart with allegations of corruption and financial impropriety at both the State and Chapter levels.
No thanks to accusations and counter-accusations between the State Chairman and Chapter Chairmen in the 18 Local Government Areas of the State.
With both sides at dagger drawn, the APC State Chairman, Barrister Alphonsus Eba alleged that the 18 local government Chapter Chairmen have failed integrity and prudent financial test as party administrators at the grassroots.
He claimed that they have been found wanting in many ways, including payment of salaries to Party’s executives at both the chapter and ward levels.
Barrister Eba, whose claims came on the heels of calls for his resignation, alleged that over 60 million Naira meant for salaries of Chapter and Ward executives across the State’s 18 Local government areas has not been properly accounted for by the Chapter Chairmen.
He said, “If they think they are smart by hiding under the cloak of calling for my resignation when they are fully aware that they lack such constitutional powers, then their plan is dead on arrival.”
According to him, the Chapter Chairmen have been fingered in fraudulent practice of short- changing Local Government Council appointees by extorting about N3,500 Naira from them every month in the name of servicing party structures when enough provisions are made to that effect by the State chapter.
“Chapter chairmen collect Local Government Area appointees dues of more than N4 million monthly and squander without taking care of other executive members at the chapter and ward level
“This is against the spirit of our administration and our commitment for transparency and accountability”, the State Chairman also alleged.
Barrister Eba said due to this dubious tendency, the State Party organ was left with no choice than to take over the direct payment of the monthly salaries of about 5778 Ward executives in the state, a development that has not gone down well with the aggrieved Chapter Chairmen.
He further said by demanding his resignation, the Chapter chairmen have publicly demonstrated their crass ignorance of the provisions of APC’s constitution which does not vest such powers in them.
Urging the Chapter Chairmen and Secretaries to come clean in the allegations against them rather than playing to the gallery, Barrister Eba said only the State chapter can initiate disciplinary procedures against erring party officials at LGA chapter level and not the other way round.
Chapter Chairmen, Secretaries Insist State APC Chair Must Go
In demanding that the State Party Chairman, Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Eba, must immediately resign from office following alleged financial impropriety and administrative high handedness, the Chapter Chairmen and Secretaries accused Eba of anti-progressive actions in piloting APC’s affairs, noting that his leadership style has a destabilizing and destructive effect on the ruling party.
A statement issued at the end of their meeting held under the aegis of “Forum of APC Chapter Chairmen and Secretaries,” in Calabar, the State capital, accused Eba of “high handedness, insolence, underrating party officials, and transactional approach in party administration.”
Further alleging that the Chairman is instigating Chapter and Ward party officials against the Chapter leadership, the statement read by the Forum Chairman, Chief Kelvin Njong, said, “This action generated hatred, contempt, ridicule and disrepute on the Party leadership at the respective Local Government Chapters of our Party, contrary to section 21:2 (ii & v) of the APC Constitution as amended, 26 March, 2022.”
Additionally, the Forum accused him of refusing to remit the funds’ percentage meant for the Local Government Areas and Wards from the sales of forms during the 2023 general elections.
They said, “While the local government areas and wards comprising 5,778 Party officials were given N9.2 million, the state executive with just 36 members took N40 million.
“This is gross injustice and typical of the chairman. We also have other sundry remittances from the National Secretariat that are unaccounted for.”
Besides demanding immediate settlement of all the outstanding stipends of the Local Government and Ward officials to the Chapter chairmen to alleviate their sufferings, the statement said, “Going forward, we wish to recommend that the stipends earmarked for the local government and ward party officials should be deducted at source and paid to the chapter chairmen who are leaders of the party and chairmen of caucuses at the local government level.
“We strongly advocate for a review of the sharing formula of the funds accruing to the party. Ideally, this should be shared in the ratio of 70 percent to the local government and wards comprising 5,778 officials and 30 percent to the state officials that are 36 in number.
“He (Eba) should also be mandated to pay our outstanding percentage arising from the sales of delegates and nomination forms in the 2023 general elections.
“In the overall interest of the unity and progress of our great party, Eba should be mandated to resign honourably due to his anti-progressive actions and tendencies which has affected the party negatively,” the chapter Chairmen further demanded.
The communique, signed by the 18 Chapter Chairmen and 17 Chapter Secretaries of Cross River APC, also pledged the Forum’s commitment to the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Bassey Otu come 2027.
