CALABAR –The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State proceeded with its state congress on Saturday, a move Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe hailed as “very legitimate” and “organized,” despite a recent push by a faction within the party’s South-South zone to suspend the exercise NEGROIDHAVEN can report authoritatively.
The congress, aimed at electing new members of the State Executive Committee, was held under a cloud of internal wrangling. As delegates gathered, Senator Jarigbe, representing Cross River North at the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, mounted a vigorous defence of the process, directly addressing the brewing controversy.
A Congress of Defiance
The event came just days after a meeting of party leaders from the South-South zone, held at Metropolitan Hotel in the state, resolved that the congress should not hold due to unresolved “internal issues.” When confronted with this fact by journalists, Senator Jarigbe offered a swift and sharp dismissal.
“Well, they are incompetent to take that decision,” he stated. “And you know in law, you can’t put something on nothing. So, that is disregarded.”
His comments emphasizes the deep-seated divisions within the party and positioned the congress as an act of defiance by one faction against another.
Pre-empting Legal Challenges
Anticipating potential fallout, the senator also pre-emptively addressed the possibility of a legal challenge to the congress’s outcome. Expressing unwavering confidence, he dared dissenting groups to approach the courts.
“I don’t think there is a group that can go to court or challenge this in any way,” Jarigbe asserted. “Because the congress, as I said, is very legitimate and in line with the provisions of the constitution of our party.”
This legalistic framing—citing the party’s constitution and invoking the principle that “you can’t put something on nothing”—forms the core of his faction’s argument to validate the proceedings and insulate them from future disputes.
A Show of Unity and Eyes on 2027
Despite the underlying tensions, the public facing narrative was one of reconciliation and forward momentum. Senator Jarigbe acknowledged past disagreements, specifically his well-publicized “loggerheads” with the State Chairman, but framed their resolution as a family matter.
“We had some disagreements, but we resolved it as a family. So we are good to go,” he said, projecting an image of unity crucial for the party’s ambitions.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the Senator expressed strong optimism that the new executives chosen at the congress would strengthen the party. “We chose very, very capable men and women to run the affairs of the party. So we are good to go,” he added.
Uncertainty Looms
However, observers have noted that the forceful dismissal of internal dissent and the anticipation of a challenge suggest that the political peace in PDP Cross River may be fragile. The central question remains whether the faction that called for the congress’s suspension will accept the outcome or proceed with a challenge, potentially in court, setting the stage for a prolonged internal crisis.
For now, the Jarigbe-led faction has successfully staged its congress, but the final verdict on its legitimacy may yet be delivered outside the congress hall.
The Saturday state congress witnessed the reelection of Venatius Ikem as state chair of the PDP in Cross River.
