Cross River Chapter of NDC Loses Faith in Leader, Votes to Oust Chairman

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The Cross River State Executive Council of the Nigeria Democratic Congress has passed a vote of no confidence on its State Chairman, Mr Goddie Akpama, accusing him of continuing to receive salaries from the Cross River State Government months after claiming to have resigned his appointment.

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The executives described the alleged continued salary payments as a possible conflict of interest and part of a series of actions they said had undermined the party’s growth in the state.

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The decision was contained in a communiqué issued on Friday and signed by the party’s Deputy State Chairman, Sir Mark Ujor; State Publicity Secretary, Comrade Cletus Albert Amawu; State Women Leader, Lady Adim Henshaw; State Legal Adviser, Hon. Ebaye Akonjom; and State Financial Secretary, Ettan Aidam Mark.

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According to the communiqué, Akpama continued to receive government salaries until May 2026 despite maintaining that he had resigned from the state government’s employment.

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The executives also accused him of anti-party activities, financial irregularities, abuse of office, altering the State Executive Council list after the state congress without consulting stakeholders, imposing party structures and officials, and sidelining key officers.

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They further alleged that the chairman failed to harmonise and publish ward and local government structures, managed delegates’ funds and party resources without transparency, constituted screening committees without constitutional authority, admitted persons of questionable loyalty into the party structure, and failed to convene a meeting of the State Executive Council since the state congress.

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The aggrieved executives called on the party’s National Working Committee to investigate the allegations and determine whether constitutional procedures were breached, party funds were properly managed, and the chairman abused his office.

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They also urged the national leadership to restore the original State Executive Council structure, verify the membership status of state executive members, restore altered offices and positions, and intervene to restore unity within the party.

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“The future of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in Cross River State must not be jeopardised by internal disputes, personal interests, or unconstitutional practices,” the communiqué stated.

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Responding in a telephone conversation with PUNCH Online on Saturday in Calabar, Akpama dismissed the allegations as a politically motivated smear campaign orchestrated to weaken the opposition in Cross River State.

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He maintained that he formally resigned his appointment with the Cross River State Government on February 16, 2026, and said he had documentary evidence, including his resignation letter and official receipts, showing he refunded salaries mistakenly paid to him after his resignation.

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“My resignation letter exists. The refund receipts exist. The truth exists. What does not exist is the fantasy being promoted by those who are desperate to score cheap political points,” Akpama said.

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Akpama explained that he refunded the salaries immediately after discovering that payments had continued following his resignation.

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He also denied allegations of anti-party activities, saying disagreements over the party’s direction ahead of the governorship election should not be interpreted as disloyalty.

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“Supporting a political position within a democratic party does not make anyone a traitor. Disagreement is part of democracy. What is not part of democracy is character assassination, blackmail, and the deliberate manipulation of facts,” he said.

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