APC PWDs Cry Out: Allegations of Hijack and Marginalization in Cross River State

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) community in Cross River State is raising an urgent alarm over what they describe as the hijacking and marginalization of their rightful inclusion in governance.

In a formal complaint addressed to the State Chairman of the APC, Hon. Bar Alphonsus Ogar Eba, JP, the APC PWD members decry the unlawful and unauthorized takeover of the collation of appointment lists meant for APC PWDs by the Cross River State Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities—a civil society organization with no official mandate within the APC political structure.

The group noted that despite the Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency Senator (Prince) Bassey Otu’s clear and commendable commitment to inclusive governance, a disturbing trend has emerged where a non-partisan organization is attempting to usurp the party’s internal processes for PWDs’ political appointments.

Key Concerns Raised Include:

1. Unauthorized Takeover by a Civil Society Organization:
   The association in question, despite including members who are APC supporters, remains a CSO and therefore lacks the jurisdiction to carry out functions reserved for internal party structures. The collation of names for appointments, they say, should be the sole responsibility of the APC leadership and its recognized PWD wing.
2. Violation of Party Inclusivity Principles:
   APC PWD members warn that allowing external organizations to manage political appointments meant for party loyalists directly contradicts the party’s ethos. They caution that this could undermine the Governor’s efforts and dilute the role of genuine APC supporters.
3. Exclusion of Party Members Who Sacrificed for the APC:
   The group insists that those who stood by the party through critical political moments, including the pre-2023 election battles and party realignments, must be given priority in the reward and inclusion processes. Allowing “outsiders to reap where they did not sow” could demoralize core members and threaten future party cohesion.

Their Demands Are as Follows:

• Immediate Intervention by the State APC leadership to reclaim control of the appointment list collation process.
• Formation of a Transparent Verification Committee consisting of APC PWD leaders and relevant party officials to ensure only bona fide APC members are considered for appointments.
• Accountability Measures to investigate how a non-partisan body gained control of this process and prevent future occurrences.

The APC PWDs conclude with a call for swift action by the party to uphold Governor Otu’s vision of inclusive governance, respect the dignity and loyalty of party members with disabilities, and restore transparency and trust in the party’s internal democratic processes.

For further information, contact:
Comrade Ignatius Bisong – Coordinator CRS APC PWDs Support Network, 081 389 49052