Prof. Zana Akpagu, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), has resigned from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), effective immediately, citing unresolved court cases and legal challenges affecting the party. In a letter dated April 26, 2026, addressed to Pastor Emmanuel Ugar Ugwakong, ADC Chairman of Ipong Ward in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State, Akpagu stated the decision followed extensive consultations with family, friends, associates, and political followers. He wrote: "I write to inform you of the resignation of my membership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) with immediate effect. This decision comes after consultation with family, friends, associates and followers, largely based on the uncertainties arising from the unsettled court cases and legal hurdles placed on the pathway of the ADC." The letter was acknowledged and signed by the ward leadership on April 29, 2026. Akpagu, a respected scholar of African and Caribbean Literatures in French, served as UNICAL's Vice-Chancellor from 2015 to 2020 and remains influential in academic and political circles in Cross River State. His resignation has sparked political discussions in Obudu and beyond, with observers linking it to growing concerns over the ADC's internal stability amid ongoing legal disputes. While Akpagu did not indicate any future political affiliation, analysts suggest his exit could influence realignments in the state's political landscape ahead of upcoming elections.
A prominent academic's departure from the ADC over unresolved legal battles exposes the fragility of political parties entangled in prolonged litigation. When internal disputes reach a point where respected figures like Zana Akpagu feel compelled to exit, the party's operational credibility comes into question. His resignation, rooted in uncertainty rather than ideology, signals a deeper institutional crisis within the ADC. Without resolution, such departures may become a pattern, not an exception.
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