Embattled Ex-Cross River PDP Chairman Asked to Return Official Vehicle To Party’s Secretariat
The suspended Chairman of the Cross River State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Vena Ikem, has been called upon to return the party’s official vehicle, a black Prado SUV, to the PDP state secretariat in Calabar.
The directive follows Ikem’s suspension by the State Working Committee over alleged anti-party activities and misconduct. He has since been replaced by Chief Austin Edibe as the acting chairman.
A statement from the Cross River State PDP Stakeholders Forum, shared by Edadi Chris, urged Ikem to hand over the vehicle voluntarily.
The statement warned that failure to comply could result in enforcement action. It also called on members of the public to report any sightings of Ikem with the vehicle to the nearest police station or the state PDP secretariat.
The statement, dated November 19, 2024, read:
“The former state chairman of PDP Cross River State, Barr. Venatius Ikem, is hereby advised to return the official vehicle of the PDP State Chairman’s office to the PDP state secretariat, Calabar, peacefully. Otherwise, he will be forced to do so any day, anytime he is seen with the vehicle.”
“Please, it’s a black Prado SUV. Any member of the public that sees him with the car should please report to the nearest police station or contact the state PDP secretariat.”
Ikem’s suspension and the subsequent public appeal for the vehicle’s return highlight ongoing tensions within the party in Cross River State.