BREAKING: Cross River PDP Suspends Wike’s Ally 

Cross River PDP Suspends Wike’s Ally 

 

 

The Cross River State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended its State Chairman, Vena Ikem, who is widely regarded as a close ally of Nyesom Wike, the former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

 

 

Ikem’s suspension was reportedly communicated in a formal letter addressed to the PDP’s National Acting Chairman.

 

The letter, signed by members of the State Executive Council, Chapter, and Ward Executives, cited undisclosed reasons for the action.

 

Vena Ikem has been a key figure in the PDP structure in Cross River, often leading delegations to Wike during his tenure as Rivers State Governor. The former governor, now a federal minister, is believed to have been a major financial backer of the PDP in Cross River, particularly after Governor Ben Ayade defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2021.

 

The relationship between Ikem and Wike had been publicly celebrated within party circles. In October 2022, Ikem, accompanied by local government chapter chairmen, visited Wike to express gratitude for his support of the PDP in Cross River.

 

During the visit, Ikem acknowledged Wike’s role in sustaining the party’s operations, stating, “Each day I think of what you have done for us since Governor Ayade left with the PDP mandate to the APC, I can only imagine. You have been more than a Governor to us.”

 

The suspension comes amid ongoing internal crisis within the PDP at both the state and national levels, raising questions about the future of the party’s leadership in Cross River and its relationship with influential figures like Wike.

 

Efforts to reach Ikem or his representatives for comments were unsuccessful at the time of this report. The National PDP leadership is yet to issue an official statement on the suspension.