A former aide to ex-president Muhammadu Buhari, Okoi Obono-Obla, on Monday, accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of manipulating the 2023 national and state assembly primaries to favor defectors from other political parties.

Obono-Obla, in a statement calling for midterm elections to restructure the APC leadership in Cross River State, claimed that only the governorship primary was fairly conducted, with the winner chosen by consensus.

He alleged, “All elective position tickets such as national and state assemblies (except the governorship ticket) were manipulated and handed to defectors.”

He urged the party to hold midterm congresses at the state, local government, and ward levels to address perceived imbalances, claiming deep divisions within the party due to injustices following the 2021 defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Obono-Obla also criticized the current APC leadership in Cross River State, accusing it of running an exclusive and undemocratic administration.

He argued that the party’s executive committees at all levels are dominated by PDP defectors and called for a more inclusive leadership.

The APC State Chairman, Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Eba, dismissed the accusations, claiming Obono-Obla was attempting to divide the party.

Eba said Obono-Obla’s frustration stemmed from his failed efforts to secure federal and state appointments for himself and his associates.