11 August 2020
The Chapter Chairmen of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State has called on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to maintain their position as it concerns the ward and chapter executive of the PDP in Cross River State.
The Chairmen made the call in a Communique issued after a meeting held in Calabar.
Hon. Raymond Asuquo signed on behalf of Chapter Chairmen in Southern Senatorial District, while Chief Godwin Igwe and Obule David Oko signed on behalf of Chairmen in the Central and Northern Senatorial Districts respectively.
The Chairmen implore all stakeholders of the party in the state to close ranks and work together to resolve the lingering issues currently disrupting the peaceful conduct of the state congress of the party.
They however, pledged their loyalty to Gov. Ben Ayade of the state, who they described as the leader of the party and members of the National Assembly who are also critical stakeholders of the party in the state.
"We want to notify Gov. Ben Ayade that we are committed members of the party who supported him immensely from the inception of his administration and it would be unfair for the governor to see us as not being loyal to him as a leader of the party as the test of loyalty is embedded strongly in our support during the second elections of his Excellency.
"Finally, we appeal to the NWC of our party that the unity, peace and continuity of the party is paramount and must be maintained.
"We plead with the party to maintain status quo as it concerns ward and chapter executive members as communicated to our former Chairman, Edim Inok in a letter dated April 26 2020.
"As a party that promotes and protect members rights, we strongly admonish the NWC to eschew arbitrary disqualification of Aspirants to the state and other congresses unconstitutionally.
"The letter was captioned 'Approval of new ward and local government area executive committee members in Cross River as signed by the National Organising Secretary Col. Austin Akobundu (Rtd), published by the National Working Committee and duly acknowledged by INEC," the communique stated.
The Chairmen stated in the communique that they were duly inaugurated through a notary public on April 30th and 5th May respectively.
They maintained that the NWC confirmed their authenticity as duly elected members of the party at local government and ward level in Cross River State and they will protect their mandate legally.
