The deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Cross River State, Alphonsus Ogar Eba, has warned Governor Bassey Otu against demolishing his residential property despite a subsisting court order restraining the government from taking further action.
Eba alleged that the state government invaded his property on October 8, defaced his fence wall and pasted a final demolition notice despite an existing restraining order.
The PDP deputy governorship candidate, who disclosed this in a statement, called on Otu to respect the court order and allow the judiciary to determine the dispute.
“Governor Otu, please, stop the lawlessness, allow the court to decide,” he said on Friday in a statement sent to THE WHISTLER.
Eba said he approached the court after the governor allegedly targeted his residential buildings with a demolition notice on June 29, 2026.
According to him, the court subsequently issued an order restraining the government and its agents from demolishing the property or taking further action against it.
He said the order was extended on the last adjourned date after the government sought an adjournment to respond to his claims, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion on notice.
“It is shocking, revolting and very disturbing that in the face of a subsisting order of a court of competent jurisdiction, the government decided to invade my peaceful possession yesterday, October 8, 2026, and defaced my fence wall by painting and pasting a final demolition notice with plans to demolish the property at any hour of the night,” he said.
Eba described the alleged action as contempt of court and said he had notified the relevant security agencies.
He also raised concerns about his personal safety and that of his family, supporters and property, warning that the governor should be held responsible if anything happened to them.
“My life is no longer safe and if anything happens to me or any member of my family, including my supporters or my property, Governor Bassey Edet Otu must be held responsible,” he said.
The deputy governorship candidate suggested that the planned demolition might be intended to discourage him from pursuing his political ambition ahead of the 2027 elections.
He, however, vowed not to withdraw from the race, insisting that the development had strengthened his resolve.
“If the plan to break this property is meant to break my spirit for the 2027 election, then I make bold to say that Governor Otu has only emboldened my spirit to pursue this ambition with added vigour and vitality. Nothing will make me withdraw from the race,” he said.
Eba further accused the state government of creating an atmosphere of political intimidation, alleging that he and members of his party had faced several assassination attempts.
He cited incidents he said occurred in Calabar on May 11, in Odukpani on September 28, and at the palace of the Paramount Ruler of Calabar South and the entrance of African Club near Watt Market in Calabar on October 2.
The PDP chieftain did not provide further details of the alleged incidents in his statement.
He also accused the government of being afraid of the 2027 elections because of what he described as its failures, while alleging that the planned demolition was part of efforts to intimidate political opponents.
Despite the allegations, Eba said he and his supporters would not resort to violence in response to the development.
“We will do our best not to return violence for violence because our desire to serve is not worth the blood of innocent Cross Riverians and non-Cross Riverians residing in our state,” he said.
He urged his supporters, family members, friends and sympathisers to remain calm while he continued to pursue the matter through legal channels.
Eba also appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the State Security Service, the Chief of Army Staff and the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to intervene and prevail on the governor to respect the court order.
He warned that failure to respect democratic principles and the rule of law could create unnecessary tension in the state.
The PDP deputy governorship candidate reiterated his commitment to pursuing his rights through lawful means, expressing confidence that the courts would determine the dispute.
The Cross River State Government has not reacted to the alarm even as attempts to speak with the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Linus Obogo, were unsuccessful.
PDP Deputy Guber Candidate Warns Otu Over Planned Demolition Despite Court Order
