PDP Crisis Shifts to Cross River as State Chairman Openly Defies NWC Directive

PDP Crisis Shifts to Cross River as State Chairman Openly Defies NWC Directive

 

 

The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has shifted to Cross River State, where the State Chairman, Venatius Ikem, has openly defied the directive of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) over the postponement of the state congress scheduled for September 27.

 

In a statement released on Wednesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, announced the suspension of the congress to elect a new State Working Committee (SWC).

 

He further reaffirmed an earlier directive ceding control of the state chapter to the South South Zonal Caretaker Committee, led by Emmanuel Ogidi, on the grounds that the tenure of the current executive had expired.

 

But Ikem, who is also a member of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), rejected the directive, describing it as unconstitutional and politically motivated. He accused unnamed former stakeholders of instigating “an artificial crisis” in order to impose their preferred candidates on the state chapter.

 

“The NWC is not the NEC, of which I am a member. They have no moral, legal, or constitutional authority to overrule the NEC’s decision,” Ikem declared, vowing to challenge the dissolution of the state executive in court if necessary.

 

The embattled chairman further insisted that his mandate remains valid until September 29, 2025. He presented documents to back his claim, noting that the state executive was elected on September 18, 2021, and formally sworn in on September 29 of the same year.

 

“Our election was held on September 18, 2021, and we were sworn in on September 29. I have submitted my oath of office and allegiance. Let anyone claiming otherwise produce theirs,” he argued.

 

Ikem emphasized that preparations for the congress had been completed and maintained that the national leadership’s role was to monitor, not dictate, state-level processes.

 

The development has widened the rift within the Cross River PDP, heightening concerns over the party’s unity and readiness for future political contests in the state.