In a dramatic turn of events that highlights the ongoing political tensions within Cross River State, armed mobile police officers descended on Calabar early Tuesday morning, March 10, to prevent the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from holding a crucial party event.
The ADC had scheduled the inauguration of its membership registration, mobilisation and revalidation committee for 10:00 a.m. at an event centre along Marian Road in Calabar. The committee, which was to be headed by Eko Alobo, had been set up to coordinate the party’s membership registration and mobilisation activities across Cross River State ahead of its upcoming primaries.
However, by 7:00 a.m. – three hours before the scheduled event – a contingent of armed mobile policemen had already cordoned off the venue, effectively blocking party members from gaining access to the premises.
Internal Crisis or Political Manoeuvring?
According to sources familiar with the situation, the police action was not arbitrary. The security operatives were reportedly acting on specific orders following a petition submitted by some members of the ADC itself. This development points to possible internal wranglings within the party’s Cross River State chapter.
The identity of the petitioners and the specific allegations contained in their complaint have not been made public. However, the swift response by security forces suggests the petition raised serious concerns that warranted immediate intervention.
Party Leaders Attempt Intervention
Senior figures within the ADC did not take the development lying down. The party’s South-South Zonal Vice Chairman, Usani Uguru Usani, alongside Bassey Eko Ewa, immediately swung into action to resolve the impasse.
The leaders held urgent discussions with the Cross River State Commissioner of Police in an attempt to address the standoff and possibly gain clearance for the event to proceed at the original venue. Despite their efforts and political clout, the meeting with the police boss yielded no immediate resolution.
Event Relocated to Private Residence
With the venue sealed and no breakthrough in sight, party leaders made alternative arrangements. The gathering was hastily moved to the private residence of Usani Uguru Usani, where a large number of party supporters and members eventually assembled.
The relocation allowed the party to proceed with its planned activities, albeit in a more restricted setting than the event centre that had been originally booked for the occasion.
Implications for ADC in Cross River
This incident raises important questions about the state of affairs within the ADC in Cross River State. Internal petitions leading to police intervention suggest possible factional struggles that could affect the party’s cohesion and electoral prospects.
As the ADC prepares for its primaries, the party’s ability to manage these internal contradictions will be crucial. The membership registration and mobilisation exercise was meant to strengthen the party’s grassroots structure, but incidents like this could undermine confidence among supporters.
Political observers in Cross River will be watching closely to see how the ADC leadership handles this crisis and whether the party can present a united front going forward.
The development also highlights the complex relationship between internal party politics and security agencies in Nigeria, where petitions from aggrieved members can trigger interventions that affect party activities.
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