The newly-elected chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Christopher Eta, has declared that opposition parties in the state are virtually non-existent and pose no threat to the ruling party.
Speaking during an interaction with journalists in Calabar, Eta said the APC does not feel the presence of any opposition, describing them as too weak to challenge the party’s dominance.
He dismissed concerns over the emergence of a coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which includes former governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke, alongside other political figures.
“How can you ask if we are scared of them? Why should we be? They pose no threat to our electoral success,” Eta said.
He further downplayed the influence of other notable politicians, including Gershom Bassey, ex-minister of Niger Delta Affairs Usani Usani, insisting that their combined political strength “means nothing” to the APC.
According to him, Cross River remains firmly an APC state, adding that while the opposition appears dormant, the ruling party would welcome a more vibrant contest of ideas.
“We actually want them to come alive so we can meet in the marketplace of ideas and test our programmes against theirs,” he said, noting that he personally enjoys political competition.
Eta also denied allegations that the APC is fueling internal crises within the ADC in the state, maintaining that the opposition’s challenges are self-inflicted.
On the state of his own party, he rejected claims of internal division, stating that most issues had been resolved since he assumed office about two weeks ago.
“Politics is a game of contest — in ideas, interests, and even ambition. What some call disunity is not unusual; it is part of the process,” he added.
He likened political disagreements to activity in a theatre, arguing that visible tensions are a natural feature of democratic engagement rather than a sign of instability.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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