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Cross River PDP Crisis Worsens as Congress Postponement Sparks Leadership Dispute
Cross River PDP faces turmoil as State Chairman Venatius Ikem rejects the NWC’s directive postponing the state congress, insisting his tenure is valid until September 29, 2025, and vowing to proceed with elections despite national opposition.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State is grappling with deepening internal strife following conflicting directives over its state congress to elect a new State Working Committee (SWC).
On Wednesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, issued an unsigned press release announcing the postponement of the congress, earlier scheduled for Saturday, September 27, 2025.
This followed an earlier directive from the National Publicity Secretary instructing the South-South Zonal Caretaker Committee, led by Emmanuel Ogidi, to oversee the state chapter’s affairs pending fresh elections, citing the expiration of the current executive’s tenure.
However, Cross River PDP Chairman, Venatius Ikem, has strongly rejected the directive, insisting that the congress would hold as planned.
Ikem accused certain former party stakeholders of manufacturing a crisis to impose their preferred candidates while simultaneously pushing a coalition platform in the state.
Declaring that his tenure remains valid until September 29, 2025, Ikem argued that only the National Executive Committee (NEC), of which he is a member, has the authority to fix or alter congress dates—not the National Working Committee (NWC).
“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,” he said.
Ikem vowed to challenge the purported dissolution of the state executive in court if necessary, stressing that all preparations for the congress were already in place.
“The state congress will be organised by the state chapter. The national committee’s role is to monitor, not to dictate,” he insisted.
Responding to claims that his tenure had expired, Ikem presented documents to back his position: “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.”
The deepening rift has left the Cross River PDP sharply divided, raising fresh concerns about the party’s cohesion ahead of critical political contests in the state.
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