Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State have petitioned Governor Bassey Otu, accusing his Chief of Staff, Emmanuel Ironbar, of wielding excessive and disruptive influence within the administration.

The petition, issued under the Emerging Progressives Leaders Forum (EPLF) and signed by its General Secretary, Francis Bassey, warned that senior appointees are increasingly frustrated by what they describe as the Chief of Staff’s “hostile and overpowering grip” on government operations.

According to the group, many political appointees are alarmed that an unelected aide has allegedly usurped the roles of constitutionally recognised officials, leading to what they termed “a climate of intimidation and administrative paralysis.”

“There is only one elected governor in Cross River State,” the group said, urging Otu to “save us from the Chief of Staff before governance collapses.”

The EPLF further alleged that ministries cannot access funds or execute projects without Ironbar’s approval, adding that the Chief of Staff is reportedly determining which ministries receive funding, which programmes proceed, and who enjoys political access — actions the group described as far beyond the traditional duties of the office.

Some commissioners, the group claimed, have been “reduced to begging” for funds already appropriated to their ministries. Others described their experiences as humiliating, noting that public appearances mask internal dysfunction.

The Forum warned that the coming weeks may shape both the future of Governor Otu’s administration and the state’s democratic stability.