The Cross River State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has apologised for the erroneous invitation of some ‘stakeholders’ of the party, including a sitting Supreme Court Justice, three university vice-chancellors and a deceased military officer.

The ‘stakeholders’ were invited to a party caucus meeting with the state Governor, 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 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; Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Offiong Effanga Offiong; Vice Chancellor of University of Cross River State, Prof. Francisca Bassey; Chief Magistrate David Edogi, 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 Otu, scheduled for Monday, February 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 Council Area.

The inclusion of Major General Unimna, who died in 2025 and was buried that year, further fueled public backlash.

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.