By Dooyum Naadzenga
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State has ushered in a new chapter with the appointment of Rt. Hon. Barr. Christopher Sony Etta as state chairman.
The move, first noted by Okpo O. Ojah, PhD – a Public Commentator marks a deliberate pivot toward stability and unity after the internal strife that ended his predecessor’s tenure.
A two‑term former member of the House of Representatives, Etta emerged through a broadly supported, consensus‑driven process that reflected key stakeholders’ wishes, quelled tensions and restored party equilibrium.
As Cross River prepares for the 2027 elections, his leadership could prove pivotal to the APC’s resurgence in a state long marked by factionalism.
Etta’s record and temperament underscore his suitability. Known for humility and accessibility, he contrasts with the combative styles that have previously weakened APC leadership in the state.
His legislative tenure representing Obudu/Ogoja Federal Constituency sharpened his negotiation skills and deepened his grassroots appeal—attributes essential for a party eyeing electoral dominance.
In his inaugural address, Etta emphasised party supremacy, unity and discipline, urging newly sworn‑in local government chapter chairmen to prioritise members’ welfare over personal agendas.
That rhetoric is not mere platitude; it directly addresses fractures exposed during recent primaries, where winner‑takes‑all contests fuelled defections and litigation.
Historical context helps explain why the consensus approach matters. Since the APC’s national ascendancy in 2015, Cross River has been beset by internal divisions.
The state, once a PDP bastion under Governors Liyel Imoke and Ben Ayade, flipped to APC with Ayade’s victory in 2015. Yet underlying rifts—exacerbated by godfatherism, zoning disputes and allegations of imposition—persisted.
The immediate past chairman’s exit amid charges of imposition and financial impropriety left the party vulnerable, spawning parallel executives and protracted court battles that eroded cohesion.
Etta’s emergence, endorsed by Governor Sen. Prince Bassey Otu, National Assembly members and traditional rulers, breaks that cycle.
Unlike the acrimonious conventions of 2022, his selection followed broad consultations and a consensus ethos that echoes the APC’s 2022 emphasis on inclusivity.
The result positions Etta as a unifier—someone capable of bridge‑building in the mould of figures who steadied fractious chapters elsewhere.
Strategically, Etta’s agenda rests on three pillars: unity, grassroots expansion and modernisation.
Unity requires mending fences with aggrieved factions, including loyalists of former leaders sidelined after 2023.
By promoting consensus primaries and credible dispute‑resolution mechanisms, Etta can reduce the defections that cost the APC seats in the 2023 state assembly elections and allowed opposition parties to exploit internal discord.
Grassroots mobilisation is vital across Cross River’s varied landscape—from Calabar’s urban centres to the hilly northern terrain and the riverine south.
Etta’s call to local chairmen to focus on membership drives, voter education and welfare schemes echoes successful APC ward models in other states.
With 2027 on the horizon, renewed emphasis on grassroots organisation could expand the party’s base beyond its performance in 2023.
Modernisation offers immediate gains. Cross River’s APC lags peers in digital outreach and data‑driven organising.
Implementing a secure digital membership register, deploying WhatsApp and SMS systems for rapid communication, and using basic analytics to target swing wards would strengthen campaign readiness.
Equally important is institutionalising inclusivity—formalising youth and women quotas and holding regular town halls to counter perceptions of elitism.
A harmonious relationship with Governor Otu is critical.
Otu’s administration, which prioritises infrastructure projects such as the Bakassi deep seaport and agricultural development, needs a coordinated party machinery to translate governance into political capital. Etta’s early overtures to the government signal potential synergy, mirroring models in other states where party‑state alignment boosted re‑election prospects.
Nonetheless, headwinds remain. National economic strains—rising prices and unemployment—stoke anti‑incumbent sentiment.
Cross River’s significant poverty levels demand that the APC present credible solutions to youth unemployment and livelihood insecurity, or risk ceding ground to PDP, Labour Party or other challengers.
Internally, ambitious actors eyeing 2027 tickets may test Etta’s discipline agenda, requiring deft management and timely concessions.
There are tangible opportunities too. The 2026 local government elections will be an early barometer of organisational health; dominant showings would consolidate Etta’s authority and momentum.
Federally, Cross River’s delegation of senators and representatives can leverage projects that tangibly improve livelihoods—linking national initiatives to local impact. Etta’s legal background, reflected in his “Barr.” title, is an asset in navigating electoral disputes and regulatory challenges that often bedevil party operations.
Nationally, a unified APC in Cross River strengthens the party’s South‑South posture and provides a regional bulwark against a PDP resurgence. Success here could encourage similar consensus approaches in other states and bolster APC’s prospects heading into 2027.
To translate optimism into victory, Etta needs a clear, measurable roadmap: quarterly stakeholder summits, a digital membership portal by Q3 2026, policy town halls tying party ideals to government deliverables, and performance metrics—such as targeted membership growth and a marked reduction in defections and litigation.
His executive team, including deputy Effiong Eyo and secretary Bassey Awor, must be empowered to implement reforms swiftly and transparently.
In sum, Rt. Hon. Barr. Christopher Sony Etta’s chairmanship offers the APC in Cross River a genuine fresh start.
Backed by party faithful and a receptive government, he faces the test of converting renewed unity into durable organisational reform and electoral success.
If he sustains the early goodwill, institutionalises inclusivity and aligns party structures with tangible governance achievements, the APC could consolidate its position and redefine Cross River’s political trajectory.
Failure, however, risks a return to factionalism and missed opportunity.
