By Emmanuel Edet Ani
Calabar—The Calabar Municipality Local Government is bleeding under the weight of administrative neglect, political interference, and alleged party manipulation. A careful investigation reveals a municipality where the structures of governance, accountability, and party democracy appear to have been systematically compromised.
Nearly two years into the administration of Chairman RT. Hon. Apostle James Okon Anam, serious questions continue to arise about the functionality of the local government. The Vice Chairman, for instance, has reportedly been forced to operate without an office, carrying out official duties from his vehicle. Allegations that ₦10 million was allocated for office renovations have been disputed by insiders, who describe such claims as entirely false. The absence of a proper office is not a trivial matter; it undermines the dignity of the Vice Chairman and cripples the ability to coordinate essential council activities.
The plight of political appointees is equally alarming. Many were appointed almost two years ago but have yet to receive formal appointment letters. Without these letters, they are reportedly unable to access banking services, carry out administrative responsibilities, or engage in official transactions. Compounding this is the issue of salary payments. Non-statutory appointees did not receive December 2025 salaries during the Christmas season, and only received delayed payments in February 2026. Salaries for January and February 2026 remain unpaid. All payments reportedly pass through WEMA Bank, the channel used for council disbursements, raising questions about transparency, delays, and possible mismanagement. Some appointees allege arbitrary deductions, a claim that further highlights a climate of fear and intimidation within the local government.
The administrative crisis is intertwined with political turbulence. Investigations reveal that the APC congress in the Calabar Municipality Local Government Area has allegedly been hijacked by the Mayor across multiple wards and at the chapter level. Petitions submitted from Ward One, Ward Two, Ward Five, Ward Six, and Ward Nine allege irregularities, including the removal and sidelining of ward executives and officers. Party loyalists outside the Mayor’s immediate faction claim that these moves have effectively concentrated power in a few hands, erasing accountability, and manipulating party structures for personal or political advantage.
Particularly troubling is the situation of the APC Chapter Chairman, Emmanuel Effiong Etim, who is reported to be serving simultaneously as Special Assistant on Sports within the local government while continuing to lead the party chapter. This dual role, according to several sources, represents a direct conflict of interest, undermining both administrative neutrality and party governance.
The governance and political crises come amid scrutiny of the 2026 budget of the Calabar Municipality Local Government, titled “Budget of Positive Transformation” and valued at ₦13,012,527,896. Sources indicate that despite the large allocation, offices remain empty, projects are incomplete, and many communities have yet to see tangible results. Questions surrounding the execution of the budget, the authenticity of reported disbursements, and the ability of local government aides to deliver services are mounting.
Calls have now been made for Cross River Watch, as well as any interested investigator or oversight body, to step in and verify the irregularities. Specific areas of focus include the delayed salary payments through WEMA Bank, the pending issuance of appointment letters, and the alleged hijacking of the APC congress across the municipality.
As March 2026 unfolds, the people of Calabar Municipality remain trapped in a governance crisis where the Vice Chairman operates from a car, political appointees wait for letters and salaries, and party structures have allegedly been commandeered by the Mayor. The unfolding situation highlights urgent and unresolved questions about transparency, accountability, and effective governance.
Efforts to obtain official reactions from the leadership of the Calabar Municipality Local Government were ongoing at the time of this report.
