The Cross River State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has apologise for the erroneous invitation of some party stakeholders, including a sitting Supreme Court justice, three university vice-chancellors, and a deceased military officer, to a stakeholders’ meeting with the state governor, Senator Senator Bassey Otu, in Calabar, prompting public criticism and questions about political neutrality.

In a statement signed by the party’s publicity secretary, Emmanuel Edem Inyang, and made available to newsmen in Calabar, the APC said several names included in an earlier invitation were published in error and should be disregarded.

“The party sincerely tenders its unreserved apologies for this oversight and regrets any inconvenience this may have caused to the affected individuals and stakeholders,” the statement said.

Those named in the apology include Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim; Prof. Offiong Effanga Offiong; Prof. Francisca Bassey, vice chancellor of the University of Calabar; Chief Magistrate David Edogi, vice chancellor of the University of Cross River State; and the late Major General Edward Ushie Unimna.

The apology followed widespread criticism after an invitation letter circulated online listed the individuals as stakeholders invited to a pre-congress meeting with Gov. Bassey Edet Otu, scheduled for Monday, Feb. 16, at the Calabar International Convention Centre.

Justice Agim, a serving justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, was listed as a stakeholder from Obudu Local Government Area. The inclusion of Major General Unimna, who died in 2025 and was buried that year, further fueled public backlash.

The invitation also named several serving vice chancellors, including Prof. Offiong, Prof. Francisca Bassey, and Prof. Patrick Asuquo, vice chancellor of the University of Education and Entrepreneurship.

In Nigeria, vice chancellors of federal universities are often appointed as state returning officers during national elections, a role that requires strict political neutrality. Their inclusion on a partisan invitation list raised concerns on social media and among civil society groups about the perception of non-partisanship in future electoral processes.

In its statement, the APC said the affected names had been formally removed from the list and urged members and the public to disregard the earlier publication. (Guardian)

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