By Seyi Odewale
Cross River State has emerged as a major flashpoint in the deepening crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) following controversial National Assembly primaries that have triggered a fierce power struggle between the Presidency and several governors ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Investigations revealed that the dispute, which cuts across Cross River, Delta, Kaduna, Ebonyi and other APC-controlled states, centres on allegations of candidate imposition, manipulation of primary processes and the sidelining of lawmakers believed to enjoy the backing of the Presidency.
Sources within the party disclosed that influential figures in the Presidential Villa had quietly supported the return of some first-term federal lawmakers considered loyal to President Bola Tinubu and supportive of his administration’s policies at the National Assembly.
However, several governors reportedly resisted the arrangement and moved to install loyalists in strategic legislative positions.
In Cross River, Governor Bassey Otu is alleged to have supervised one of the most sweeping political overhauls during the APC primaries, leading to the displacement of at least five serving House of Representatives members.
Those affected include Reps Bassey Akiba, Calabar Municipality/Odukpani; Emil Inyang, Akamkpa/Biase; Dr Alex Egbona, Yakurr/Abi; Mike Etaba, Obubra/Etung; and Godwin Offiono, Ogoja/Yala federal constituencies.
At the senatorial level, controversy also trailed the emergence of former Commissioner for Special Duties, Oden Ewa, as APC candidate for Cross River Central Senatorial District.
Party sources alleged that Senator Eteng Jonah Williams was effectively pushed out of the race despite his incumbency and perceived closeness to the Presidency.
Aggrieved stakeholders claimed that neither transparent direct primaries nor genuine consensus arrangements were conducted before candidates emerged.
“In many places, there were no real primaries,” a senior APC source told our correspondent.
“Election materials were allegedly hijacked, committee members isolated and names of preferred candidates simply written and announced.”
The situation has triggered outrage among party loyalists, with fears that the fallout could weaken the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
Investigations showed that similar developments occurred in Kaduna, Delta and Ebonyi states where governors allegedly edged out incumbent lawmakers believed to be sympathetic to the Presidency.
The development has reportedly created tension between members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC), governors and officials linked to the Presidential Monitoring Committee reportedly coordinated by President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Sources at the APC national secretariat disclosed that governors have intensified lobbying efforts to ensure their preferred candidates make the final list to be submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
But supporters of the Presidency insist that the mass displacement of lawmakers could destabilise the National Assembly and weaken support for the Tinubu administration’s legislative agenda.
Reacting to the controversy in Cross River, a party stakeholder, Comrade Okon Asuquo, appealed to the Presidency and APC leadership to intervene.
“Please, we want the Presidency and the party leadership to protect some of the affected incumbents,” he said.
“They have served the state and the party diligently and should be considered for automatic tickets.”
