Crisis deepens in C’River PDP as congress postponement sparks dispute

….Congress to clasp arsenic scheduled, Ikem insists

By Ike Uchechukwu, Calabar

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) successful Cross River State is facing a worsening interior situation pursuing conflicting directives implicit the authorities legislature to elite a caller State Working Committee (SWC).

On Wednesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, successful an unsigned property release, announced the postponement of the congress, which was earlier scheduled for Saturday, September 27, 2025.

Also, callback an earlier connection by the National Publicity Secretary, which directed the South South Zonal Caretaker Committee, headed by Emmanuel Ogidi, to presume power of the authorities chapter’s affairs pending caller elections, citing the expiration of the existent executive’s tenure.

However, authorities PDP Chairman, Venatius Ikem, vehemently rejected the directive, insisting that the legislature volition clasp arsenic planned.

He accused immoderate erstwhile enactment stakeholders of creating an artificial situation to enforce their preferred candidates portion spearheading the emergence of the conjugation level astatine the aforesaid clip successful the state.

Ikem, who is simply a subordinate of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), stated emphatically that his tenure remains valid until September 29, 2025. He maintained that the NEC, not the National Working Committee (NWC), fixed the day for the legislature and that the NWC lacks the law authorization to change it.

“The NWC is not the NEC, of which I americium a member. They person nary moral, legal, oregon law authorization to overrule the NEC’s decision,” Ikem declared.

He vowed to situation the purported dissolution of the authorities enforcement successful tribunal if necessary, stressing that each logistical preparations for the Congress were already successful place.

“The authorities legislature volition beryllium organised by the authorities chapter. The nationalist committee’s relation is to monitor, not to dictate,” helium said.

Responding to claims that his tenure had expired, Ikem presented documents to backmost his position. “Our predetermination was held connected September 18, 2021, and we were sworn successful connected September 29. I person submitted my oath of bureau and allegiance. Let anyone claiming different nutrient theirs,” helium insisted.

The unfolding quality has near the PDP successful Cross River profoundly divided, raising concerns astir unity up of important governmental battles successful the state.

The station Crisis deepens successful C’River PDP arsenic legislature postponement sparks dispute appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.