CALABAR, CROSS RIVER – Political realignment appears to be gathering momentum in Cross River State following the resignation of former state chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Alphonsus Ogar Eba, and his return to the Peoples Democratic Party.
Eba announced his withdrawal from the ruling party in a formal letter dated May 7, 2026, addressed to the APC secretary of Echumofana Ward in Yala Local Government Area, requesting that his name be removed from both the hard copy and digital register of the party.
The development is seen by political observers as a significant shift in Cross River’s opposition landscape ahead of future electoral contests, given Eba’s previous leadership role within the APC and his longstanding political influence across party lines in the state.
Truth Live News reports that in his withdrawal letter, Eba said the ideals that drew him to the APC had been eroded.
“The values of Peace, Love Unity and Growth of APC which I brought into the party as a watchword of my political evangelical mission have since been totally eroded, annihilated and jettisoned with jiggery pokery,” he stated.
He said his decision followed deep reflection and what he described as the need to seek “an alternative platform” through which he could continue his political mission.
In a separate public declaration announcing his return to the PDP, Eba said he had listened to the calls of his supporters and resolved to act.
“In obedience to the will of our people and in total submission to my inner heart, guided by the direction of Almighty God, I have reflected and reexamined my mission on earth,” he said.
He added: “From PDP I came, to PDP I have returned.”
The former APC chairman alleged that his political ordeal within the party included what he described as an illegal suspension and the dissolution of his leadership despite what he claimed was a subsisting court order in his favour.
Eba alleged that his silence over the past several months had been misconstrued as weakness.
“Even when I have maintained a stoic and dignified silence, our silence was interpreted as cowardice,” he said.
He further accused unnamed political actors of attempting to suppress his voice and diminish his relevance in the state’s political space.
According to him, invitations from the leadership of three opposition political parties to join efforts in strengthening opposition politics in Cross River influenced his decision to leave the APC.
He said his return to the PDP forms part of a broader mission to rebuild opposition structures across the state and provide what he described as an alternative democratic direction.
“The real progressives across political party lines are coming together to redirect the present misdirection in the state,” he stated.
Eba also called on his supporters to align with what he described as a new political mission.
“I humbly call on our faithful supporters to align with our vision and join us in this mission,” he said.
The former APC chairman, who traced his political journey through several parties including the defunct SDP, UNCP, NDP, ANPP, PDP and APC, said his latest move was driven by conviction rather than political convenience.
While neither the Cross River APC leadership nor the state chapter of the PDP had officially responded to his claims as of press time, the development is expected to trigger fresh political calculations within both parties as alignments ahead of future contests continue to evolve in the state.
