Police seal venue as ADC crisis deepens in Cross River
A leadership crisis has emerged within the Cross River State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), leading to the formation of a faction reportedly aligned with former governor of
A leadership crisis has emerged within the Cross River State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), leading to the formation of a faction reportedly aligned with former governor of the state, Senator Liyel Imoke.
The dispute became more pronounced on Tuesday when a faction of the party attempted to inaugurate a Membership Mobilisation, Revalidation and Registration (MMRR) committee as part of a membership drive.
Sources said the event, tagged “Formal Flag Off of Membership Mobilization, Revalidation and Registration Inauguration of Local Government MMRR Committees,” triggered tension after personnel of the Nigerian Police cordoned off the proposed venue for the meeting.
The membership drive was said to have been organised by a faction allegedly backed by former governor Imoke and the party’s National Vice Chairman (South-South), Usani Uguru Usani.
The inauguration, scheduled to hold at an event centre along Marian Road in Calabar on Tuesday, was prevented from taking place after officers of the Cross River State Police Command sealed the venue.
Following the development, the state Commissioner of Police, Rashid Afegbua, summoned leaders of the two factions to his office as tensions heightened.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, said the command intervened due to an internal dispute within the party.
“There is an intra-party disagreement within the African Democratic Congress in the state,” he said.
Akata added that police personnel were deployed to the area to ensure peace and prevent a breakdown of law and order.
“At the moment, the two factions of the party are currently before the Commissioner of Police for an interview and dialogue aimed at resolving the issues and maintaining calm,” he said.
Reacting to the planned meeting, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, James Otudor, dissociated the official state leadership from the membership drive, describing it as illegal.
"The ADC Cross River State hereby categorically dissociates itself from the said activity, as the committee being referenced is not recognized by the party and is unknown to the constitutional structure of the party.
"For the avoidance of doubt, neither the State Chairman nor members of the State Executive Committee (EXCO) have held any meeting, received any communication, or granted any authorization regarding the formation of such a committee or the organization of the said event.
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"Consequently, the party did not authorize or approve this programme, and it does not have the consent or endorsement of the State leadership. The ADC Cross River State therefore urges all party members and the general public to disregard the invitation in its entirety" he said.
A key member of the ADC, Dr MacFarlane Ejah said, "Some persons who we don't know called for a meeting outside the knowledge of the party chairman in the state. I want to say categorically that ADC doesn't have factions in the state. But such meeting without the knowledge of our party chairman is illegal," he said.
Sources say, the crisis rocking the state chapter of the ADC arose following the suspension of the National Vice Chairman South South of the party, Usani Uguru Usani by the State chapter of the party.
His suspension was however not ratified by the national leadership of the party and this created a major rift in the state chapter of the ADC with the Usani faction carrying out activities independent of the state executive of the party.
