Eteng Breaks Silence on APC Ticket Dispute

Senator Eteng Williams, who represents Cross River Central in the Senate, has dismissed reports claiming he has withdrawn his court case challenging the emergence of Oden Ewa as the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for the district.

The lawmaker said he has not abandoned his legal action or accepted the outcome of the party’s senatorial primary, contrary to reports suggesting that the dispute had been settled.

The controversy followed an announcement by Cross River State Deputy Governor, Dr Peter Odey, who disclosed after a meeting held at his residence that the disagreement between Williams and Ewa had been resolved. The meeting was reportedly convened at the instance of Governor Bassey Otu.

According to the deputy governor, both parties had reached an agreement, withdrawn all court cases connected to the disputed APC primary and agreed to work together ahead of the next election. He also appealed to party members and supporters to unite behind Oden Ewa.

However, Senator Williams, through one of his supporters, Emmanuel Ikpi, rejected those claims and insisted that the legal challenge remains before the court.

Ikpi described reports that the senator had withdrawn the case as false, maintaining that discussions between the parties had not gone beyond preliminary talks. He argued that there was no agreement requiring Williams to discontinue the suit.

He also maintained that the process that produced Oden Ewa as the APC candidate did not comply with the law and the provisions of the amended Electoral Act. According to him, reports claiming the lawsuit had been withdrawn were intended to create the impression that the dispute had been settled when that was not the case.

Ikpi further stated that although participants at the meeting encouraged Senator Williams to consider withdrawing the court action, the senator never agreed to do so. He said reports that emerged shortly after the meeting claiming the matter had been resolved came as a surprise to his camp.

According to him, the meeting only created an opportunity for further discussions and did not produce any final agreement on the disputed senatorial ticket.

The senator’s camp also rejected the impression created by photographs circulating online, which showed Williams and Ewa standing together after the meeting. They insisted that no photographs were taken during the reconciliation meeting and claimed that the images being shared were taken during a different event held in 2025.

The disagreement has continued to create divisions within the APC in Cross River Central, where the outcome of the party’s senatorial primary remains a source of dispute among party members and stakeholders.