By Our Reporter
The Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Cross River State, Mr Goddie Akpama, said there are plots to weaken the voice of opposition by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State.
He said part of the plot is through character assassination as well as blackmail of opposition leaders.
Akpama who was reacting to the attempt by the ruling party to blackmail him, dismissed as “reckless propaganda” allegations that he serves as a mole for the APC.
To further back up his claims, he produced documentary evidence of his resignation sighted by Vanguard Newspapers from the Cross River State Government months before the smear campaign began.
Akpama, who formally resigned his government appointment on February 16, 2026, with his letter officially received and acknowledged by the Secretary to the State Government, said the timing and orchestration of the blackmail pointed to desperate elements within the political establishment threatened by the NDC’s growing foothold in the state.
“My resignation letter exists. The refund receipts exist. The truth exists. What does not exist is the fantasy being promoted by those who are desperate to score cheap political points,” Akpama said in a strongly worded statement on Friday.
At the heart of the controversy is a payroll error by the Cross River State Government, which continued processing salary payments into Akpama’s account after his resignation.
Vanguard gathered that upon discovering the administrative oversight, he refunded the full amount back to the government.
NDC chairman said: “Immediately I discovered the error in payment, I promptly refunded the full amount to the state government, obtaining official receipts as proof.
“The same individuals circulating copies of payslips have deliberately refused to circulate copies of my resignation letter and the receipts confirming the refund.
“They want party members to see only what suits their narrative while hiding facts that destroy their lies,” he said.
Political observers in Calabar say the attacks bear the hallmarks of a coordinated effort to destabilise the NDC ahead of the 2027 governorship contest in Cross River State, where the party has increasingly positioned itself as a credible alternative to APC dominance.
“If I were truly working for the APC as alleged, why would I resign my appointment? Why would I voluntarily refund the money? Why would I retain documentary evidence of the refund?” Akpama asked, challenging his accusers to match him fact for fact.
The NDC chairman also took aim at political rivals within the party’s orbit, whom he accused of weaponising the payroll error to suppress dissenting views on the party’s direction, particularly regarding the upcoming governorship race.
“Supporting a political position within a democratic party does not make anyone a traitor. Disagreement is part of democracy. What is not part of democracy is character assassination, blackmail and the deliberate manipulation of facts,” he stated.
Akpama, who has been credited with building the NDC’s grassroots structures across several communities in Cross River State, called on party members to disregard the allegations and stand firm against what he described as a calculated attempt to weaken a party that the APC now sees as a genuine threat.
“No amount of blackmail will change that. My loyalty is to the Nigeria Democratic Congress and to the people of Cross River State. My integrity remains intact, my conscience is clear,” Akpama said.
