The Cross River State Government has explained the circumstances surrounding the removal of Barrister Alphonsus Eba as chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, saying his exit from the position was linked to allegations of mismanagement and high-handedness.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, gave the explanation while reacting to recent comments by Eba, who is now a prominent opposition figure after leaving the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Cobham also challenged Eba and other opposition politicians to focus their criticism on the policies and performance of the administration of Governor Bassey Otu rather than personalities.
According to the commissioner, the state government remains open to public scrutiny and debate over its performance, but insisted that political arguments should be based on facts and issues affecting the people of Cross River.
Eba's removal as APC chairman had generated controversy within the party, particularly because he was previously regarded as one of the major political figures in the state administration's camp.
His subsequent defection to the PDP has further intensified the political rivalry between the ruling APC and the opposition party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Cobham also defended Governor Otu against criticisms over his frequent travels outside the state, saying the governor's movements were connected to engagements aimed at attracting development and advancing the interests of Cross River.
The commissioner dismissed suggestions that the governor's travels meant the state was being controlled from outside, insisting that Otu remained committed to the state's interests.
He further rejected allegations that the state government pays groups to maintain political peace in Cross River, challenging anyone with evidence of such payments to make it public.
On the issue of unpaid local government workers, Cobham said the Local Government Service Commission had explained that some of the persons protesting were not legitimately employed by the government.
He advised anyone with valid employment documents to seek legal redress, stressing that the government could not recognise appointments that were not authorised through the appropriate process.
The latest comments have added another layer to the growing political confrontation between Eba and the Otu administration, with both sides increasingly taking opposing positions on issues of governance and political leadership in Cross River.
As political activities gradually build towards 2027, Eba's transition from APC chairman to a PDP opposition figure is expected to remain a major talking point in the state's political space.
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