By Kelvin Obambon
A group of former All Progressives Congress (APC) ward chairmen in Cross River has appealed to Governor Bassey Edet Otu to address their exclusion from post-election appointments and party positions, warning that the situation risks breeding feelings of injustice among loyal grassroots leaders.
According to the affected chairmen, following the recent local government elections, some of their colleagues who served as ward chairmen were appointed into various positions across the local government areas. Others were returned during the 2026 party congresses, which they described as a form of reward for their contributions.
However, a number of them were neither appointed nor returned to any position. The group is now calling on the governor, in his “good heart,” not to allow a sense of unfair treatment to take root among those who feel they have no voice.
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They argued that extending similar recognition and rewards to the overlooked chairmen would align with the administration’s “people first” mantra. Such a step, they said, would strengthen grassroots mobilisation, foster love and unity within the party, and give hope to loyal members who worked with the assurance of eventual reward.
The former ward chairmen emphasised that addressing their plight would reaffirm confidence in the party’s commitment to equity and motivate continued support at the community level.
Meanwhile, the former Chairmen who spoke in Calabar on Friday, through their leader, Franklyn Egbai, has assured of their continued loyalty and support to the party. They passionately appealed to Governor Otu to see the need for rewarding their service, and recognize the role they played in giving the party victory at all levels in the 2023 general elections.
