Some of the Protesters at CICC |
by Ukorebi Esien
CALABAR – There was light drama Saturday, at the Calabar International Conference Center, CICC, venue for the Cross River State All Progressives Congress Stakeholders Meeting as a group of protesters with placards were sighted at the entrance of the International facility.
The protesters who are of the Calabar Municipality chapter of the party, were chatting to songs while displaying placards with various inscriptions such as “Emma Mbora is Suspended” Alphonsus Eba leave Calabar Municipality alone and face Yala, “Eba don’t destroy our party” among many others.
Speaking with newsmen some leaders of the protest informed that the protest was due to irregularities, highhandedness, and illegalities displayed by the former chapter chairman of the party, Chief Emmanuel Mbora, and aided by the state chairman of the party, Barr Alphonsus Eba.
They complained that Emmanuel Mbora had been suspended by the party in ward 4 where he hails from due to illegalities and the suspension notice was sent to the state chairman, Barr Alphonsu Eba who refused to react to it.
Speaking with Mr Magnus Edet Okon, acting Chapter chairman and Caucus chairman of APC, Calabar Municipality he informed that the protest was as a result of the injustices happening in the chapter and supported by the state chairman, Barr Alphonsus Eba.
He said in October 2023, twenty (20) out of twenty-six (26) chapter executive members passed a vote of no confidence on the former chapter chairman, Chief Emmanuel Mbora which was communicated to the state party executive headed by Barr Alphonsus Eba, but unfortunately nothing was done.
He added that the constitution gives the state working committee 7 days, 14 days, and 21 days respectively to react to the action taken by the chapter executives but the Eba-led State Working Committee refused to act on it and thus the action by the chapter executive is time bad as such can no longer be entertained by the state working committee.
The legal adviser of the party in the chapter, comrade Adugba Robbert, said Article 17 subsection 5 and 6 of the party’s constitution said once a vote of no confidence is passed on an officer of the party, that officer is relieved of his office. He insisted that the chapter executive had the backing of the constitution when it passed a ‘vote of no confidence’ on the chairman of the chapter. The legal adviser added that Emmanuel Mbora therefore, has no legal powers to sign any document on behalf of the Calabar Municipality chapter of the All Progressives Congress nor attend any function in the capacity of the chapter chairman of the party, as in so doing, he will be liable of impersonation.
Another stakeholder of the party, Conrade Iso Edim, noted that the protest was “to showcase, themselves about the illegalities that has been happening in Calabar Municipality by the state chairman of the party, Alphonsus Eba Esq by not sanctioning those that are involved in anti-party activities, embezzlement of funds, etc. As we speak, the former chapter chairman, Emmanuel Mbora has been removed from office through a suspension from APC by his ward and 20 out of 26 chapter executive members passed a ‘vote of no confidence’ on him. And the state chairman has paid deaf ears”.
“We cannot continue to keep quiet because our party is dying gradually, and if we keep quiet the party may die off in Calabar Municipality, hence our coming out today to express ourselves to the governor so that actions be taken immediately to those involved in anti-party activities must be sanctioned according to the party’s constitution and to also ask the chairman to respect and obey all the constitutional provisions in our party’s constitution.”
He added that the constitution empowers the ward executive to suspend and debar Emmanuel Mbora, former chairman of the party in the chapter, and as such the suspension stands.
In her part, Elizabeth Effiong who spoke for the women said the action of the state chairman towards efforts of the chapter to sanitize the party in Calabar Municipality is demoralizing on the women that’s why they came out in their numbers to display their grievances and unhappiness to the governor.
Elder Itoro Jacob Udo, Ex officio of the party in Calabar Municipality said should the party and the governor as the leader of the party fail to respond to their demands, there may be grave consequences for the party in Calabar Municipality.
Our correspondent who monitored the protest at CICC observed that some members of the party were embarrassed by the protest. He noted that the governor had to slow down his convoy to read some of the inscriptions on the placards on his way into the venue of the stakeholder’s meeting.
Calabarparrot had reported the suspension of Emmanuel Mbora and the subsequent pronouncement of Chief Victor Felix Idem, the Cross River State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, emerges as the “Natural Leader” of the APC in Calabar Municipality following a unanimous decision reached during a well-attended meeting of party leaders and stakeholders.