By BANNERNEWS Reporter
Police in Cross River State on Tuesday intervened in a brewing crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), barricading the venue of a planned party meeting in Calabar after rival factions clashed.
The factions are led by former governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, alongside former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Usani, and another group headed by the state chairman of the party, Dr John Ogar, and the party’s 2023 governorship candidate, Dr Effiong Nyong.
Trouble began when a meeting convened by the Imoke group was disrupted after Ogar’s faction rejected the gathering, insisting it was illegal and not recognised by the state leadership of the party.
The disagreement triggered tension and commotion at the venue, prompting police to barricade the area to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Rashid Afegbua, summoned leaders of the rival groups to his office for questioning and dialogue.
A member of Ogar’s faction, Dr MacFarlane Ejah, said the meeting was organised without the knowledge or approval of the party chairman in the state.
“Some persons we do not know called for a meeting outside the knowledge of the party chairman. ADC does not have factions in the state, but any meeting convened without the chairman’s knowledge is illegal,” Ejah said.
However, Imoke and Usani maintained that the meeting was convened in their capacities as national vice chairman and state party leader respectively to address internal issues and strengthen the party’s structure in the state.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, said the command deployed personnel to the area to maintain peace.
“Information reaching us indicates there is an intra-party disagreement within the African Democratic Congress in the state. Personnel of the command have been deployed to ensure peace and prevent any breakdown of public order,” he said.
Akata added that leaders of both groups were before the Commissioner of Police for dialogue aimed at restoring calm.
