Cross River PDP Chairman Breaks Silence Amid Resignation Calls, Blasts Aggrieved Party Members, Accuses Them of Plot to Destabilize the Party
Vena Ikem, the embattled chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State, has reacted to recent calls for his resignation, NEWSWEEK NIGERIA reports.
Ikem, facing accusations of mismanagement and alienation of party stakeholders, dismissed the claims as part of a larger plot to destabilize the party.
In recent weeks, key figures within the Cross River PDP, including the State’s financial secretary, Edadi Chris, have demanded Ikem’s immediate resignation.
Edadi, in a statement shared on the CRS PDP Stakeholders Forum, accused the chairman of being out of touch with party members and running the party for personal gain.
He alleged that Ikem was “alone out of fourteen” members of the State Working Committee (SWC), suggesting that any support for the chairman was artificially generated through monetary incentives from a prominent party leader, Hon. Peter Akpanke.
Edadi further claimed that Ikem’s tenure has been marked by ineffective leadership, leaving many within the SWC disillusioned.
According to him, the party is struggling to remain unified, with several key members expressing frustration over Ikem’s handling of party affairs.
Responding to these allegations, Ikem issued a scathing rebuttal, labeling his critics as “lazy” members who failed to deliver the party in their respective constituencies during the 2023 general elections.
In a statement obtained by NEWSWEEK NIGERIA, Ikem argued that the real problem lies with those seeking his removal, accusing them of shirking their responsibilities and now attempting to scapegoat him for their failures.