Cross River APC Boils as Stakeholders Reject Alleged Plot to Hand Over 2027 Senate Ticket to Ayade 

A major crisis is looming within the Cross River State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following allegations that the state party chairman, Alphonsus Ogar Eba, is working behind the scenes to impose former governor Ben Ayade as the party’s senatorial candidate for Cross River North in 2027.

The alleged plot has sharply divided the ruling party, fueling anger among party stalwarts who accuse Eba of manipulating the party’s structures to favour Ayade. Many fear the development could derail the APC’s preparations ahead of the next general elections.

Tensions escalated this week after the 18 APC chapter chairmen and secretaries met and issued a communiqué demanding Eba’s resignation over alleged corruption, high-handedness and misconduct. The situation took a dramatic turn on Wednesday when aggrieved members stormed the APC state secretariat in Calabar, barricaded the gates and demanded the chairman’s immediate removal. Protesters accused him of running the party “as a personal empire” tied to Ayade’s political ambitions.

Party stakeholders warn that the crisis, if not urgently addressed, could undermine the APC’s recent gains — particularly the defection of Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, a move widely celebrated as a strategic boost for the party in the northern senatorial district, long regarded as a PDP territory.

Political observers say Eba’s loyalty to Ayade is well known, citing the grand reception he recently organized to welcome the former governor back to the state. This, they argue, has further heightened suspicions that Ayade may be the chairman’s preferred senatorial candidate.

Dr. Joseph Odok, a public affairs analyst and lecturer at the University of Calabar, cautioned that any attempt to impose Ayade on the party would be disastrous.

“The attempt to foist former Governor Ben Ayade as APC’s northern senatorial candidate is a boomerang with catastrophic consequences,” he warned. “The chairman should not be central to any plot to impose personal preferences on the party, as alleged by the chapter chairmen who have called for his suspension.”

Describing Senator Jarigbe’s defection as “a timely lifeline” for the party, Odok argued that the APC in Cross River North was “virtually comatose” before his arrival. He criticized the alleged internal resistance to Jarigbe’s rising influence, calling it “funny and dangerous.”

According to him, “Instead of leveraging Jarigbe’s popularity, some loyal to the chairman appear threatened — a move that could weaken the party.”

Odok urged the APC to embrace reforms that promote transparency, inclusivity, and accountability, insisting the party must realign itself with the leadership style of Governor Bassey Otu rather than allow Ayade’s influence to linger.

But Eba has dismissed the accusations as baseless and politically orchestrated. He accused the chapter chairmen of misappropriating ₦60 million allocated for ward and chapter executives.

“They must vomit the money they embezzled,” Eba said, maintaining that the agitation for his removal is an attempt by corrupt elements to cover their tracks.

As the crisis deepens, party elders and influential figures are reportedly engaged in frantic efforts to de-escalate tensions and prevent a full-scale meltdown that could jeopardize the party’s chances in 2027.

The coming weeks are expected to be crucial as the APC struggles to keep its house in order amid growing internal distrust and accusations of favoritism, manipulation, and political sabotage.