Barr. Alphonsus Ogar Eba, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, was impeached by the State Working Committee (SWC) due to allegations of financial impropriety and administrative excess.
The action was done on Thursday at the Calabar state secretariat of the APC.
Under former governor Ben Ayade, Eba was appointed chairman in October 2021. He was accused of corruption, theft of party finances, haughtiness, and neglecting to provide party officials with stipends.
SWC members, chapter chairmen, and other stakeholders signed a communiqué in which they claimed that Eba’s actions had severely damaged party operations and frayed ties throughout the state.
The Forum of APC Chapter Chairmen had already demanded his impeachment, accusing him of worsening the condition of ward and chapter officials and delaying stipends for more than three months.
The State Treasurer, Dr. Matthew Egom, seconded the State Welfare Secretary, Okara Ekawu’s request to remove him. They claimed that before coming to a unanimous conclusion, the committee looked into the accusations in great detail.
Eba was instructed to provide the acting chairman custody of all party property and papers, including the secretariat, while the National Executive Committee (NEC) issued additional instructions.
In breach of Sections 21:2 (ii & v) of the APC Constitution, Forum Chairman and Boki LGA Chairman Kelvin Nyong accused Eba of sowing discord within the party and called the non-payment of stipends “unprecedented.”
The party leaders in attendance reiterated their support for Governor Bassey Otu and stated that stability and efficient government required the shift in leadership.
About two years prior, Eba had encountered comparable resistance when prominent members of the party, including as Chief Peter Higgins and former presidential assistant Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, demanded his dismissal due to similar accusations.
He caused a stir last month when he publicly pledged allegiance to former governor Ben Ayade and planned a lavish airport reception for him. This action was perceived as disparaging the current administration.
