Makes an attempt to take away Cross River APC chairman Eba have to be constitutional – Obono-Obla

Former presidential aide Chief Okoi Obono-Obla has cautioned that members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Cross River State ought to comply with laid down procedures and the get together structure in the event that they wish to droop or take away Barrister Alphonsus Eba as chairman of the get together within the state.

Within the final one month, there have been strikes by some get together members and teams calling for the suspension or sack of Eba.

They’ve alleged that Eba is high-handed, conceited, dictatorial and refuses to account for electoral funds amounting to over N200 million.

Based on them, he led the get together to an all spherical defeat within the final common and rerun elections within the Cross River northern district the place he hails.

On 21 February 2024, a purported Stakeholders Discussion board issued a letter signed by Chief Mark Ayo (Secretary) and Chief Mathias Ake (Chairman) suspending the State Chairman, going additional to nominate an performing state chairman.

Obono-Obla in a press release warned that the get together can’t be run like a Mafia group in accordance with the precept of ‘May is Legislation’.

“I don’t suppose that is the easiest way to conduct the affairs of a governing get together.

“It’s clear that the process utilized by the purported stakeholders to aim to take away the incumbent State Chairman was mired in irregularities, wrongful, and a transparent breach of the Occasion Structure.

“Most significantly, there was no session with related leaders of the get together on the State, Senatorial District, Native Authorities Areas, and Wards ranges throughout the size and breadth of the State.

“This isn’t honest and undemocratic by any stretch of creativeness.

“The APC Structure (2013) (as amended) offers that the tenure of each elected member of the Nationwide, States, Native Authorities Space, and Ward executives is 4 years from the date of their election.
On the 4 anniversaries of their election, the elected executives must bow out due to the precept of constitutional effluxion of time,” he stated.

Obono-Obla, who’s a lawyer, stated in accordance with Article 17 (v) of the structure, such strikes have to be ratified by the Nationwide Conference or Congress earlier than an officer is relieved of his put up at any time, particularly if a vote of no confidence was handed on him by two-thirds of members of the related Occasion Organ.

“The State Government Committee of the Occasion by 2/3 majority has not handed a vote of no confidence on the Incumbent State Chairman, Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Eba, at any time,” he stated.

He stated Article 21 of the get together structure offers energy to self-discipline get together members even then the ability shall be exercised by the respective Government Committee of the Occasion.

He famous that the get together Chairman was by no means subjected to any disciplinary continuing to afford him the correct of honest listening to, emphasizing that since APC is a democratic get together, its enterprise have to be democratically carried out always.