The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State has insisted that its scheduled state congress on September 27 will go ahead as planned, despite a statement from the party’s national leadership announcing a postponement.
Chairman of the State Working Committee (SWC), Venatius Ikem, made this known while addressing journalists in Calabar on Thursday.
The party has been grappling with internal tension following the National Working Committee’s (NWC) decision to dissolve the SWC before the expiration of its tenure and appoint the South-South Zonal Caretaker Committee to oversee the state chapter until a new leadership is elected.
The NWC explained that the move was necessary to avoid a leadership vacuum, arguing that the SWC’s tenure had expired.
However, Ikem rejected the claim, insisting that the current executive’s tenure remains valid until September 29. He described the purported dissolution as an attempt by certain individuals to manipulate the process in favour of their preferred candidates.
“Our tenure has not expired, and the state congress will proceed as scheduled on September 27,” Ikem declared. “The National Working Committee is not the National Executive Committee (NEC), of which I am a member. The NEC fixed that date, and a few members of the NWC cannot overturn it by issuing statements on social media.”
He maintained that the NWC lacked the moral, legal, or constitutional authority to countermand a decision made by the NEC.
“While the NWC can act on behalf of the NEC in certain situations, this is not one of them. Everything, including logistics, has been put in place for a successful congress on Saturday,” Ikem added.
The chairman further explained that the conduct of a state congress falls under the jurisdiction of the state chapter, with the national body’s role limited to monitoring the process.
“The NEC or NWC cannot organise a state congress. Each organ of the party has its responsibilities, and at the state level, we are fully empowered to conduct our congress,” he said.
The unfolding leadership dispute underscores deepening divisions within the party’s ranks in Cross River State, raising questions about unity ahead of the congress.
