…New chairman dismisses dissenting members as distractions who have “moved on to other parties.”
CALABAR –The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State on Saturday elected a new 39-member State Executive Committee, led by Mr. Venatius Ikem as Chairman, in a congress that its leaders hailed as transparent and legitimate, even as it laid bare the deep fissures fracturing the party NEGROIDHAVEN can report.
The election, which took place at the Venetian Arena in Calabar, saw Ikem reportedly secure a landslide 1,500 votes, a figure repeatedly announced by the Chairman of the Electoral Panel, Jones Chukwudi, who presided over the meticulous counting of votes for all 39 positions.
However, the display of internal democracy was overshadowed by a defiant and combative tone from the winning faction, directly aimed at party members who had earlier called for the congress’s suspension.
In his first remarks after being returned as chairman, Venatius Ikem addressed the criticisms head-on, pushing back against claims that his previous leadership had weakened the party. “I didn’t bring the party from top to any bottom. I added to it,” Ikem stated. When asked how he would foster inclusivity, given past complaints, he delivered a stark message, effectively excommunicating the dissenting faction.
“Forget about those who are pretending to still be in our party. We know they have moved on to other political parties. What they’ve tried to do is only a distraction,” Ikem declared. “I believe that without those distractions, PDP will move on very, very strong… we will sift the wheat from the chaff.”
This rhetoric of division stood in sharp contrast to the unified picture painted by other party leaders at the event. Earlier, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe had vehemently defended the congress’s legitimacy, dismissing a recent resolution by party leaders from the South-South zone that called for the exercise to be halted.
“They are incompetent to take that decision,” Senator Jarigbe had told journalists. “And you know in law, you can’t put something on nothing. So that is disregarded.”
He expressed confidence that no group could successfully challenge the congress in court, asserting it was “in line with the provisions of the constitution of our party.”
Another key stakeholder, Senator Sandy Onor, echoed the sentiment of legitimacy, emphasizing the procedural integrity of the congress. “We had a proper panel, duly certified and sent by the National Working Committee… Everything was done with a huge dose of accountability and transparency,” Onor said, calling on all members to “get back to rhythm.”
The elaborate result announcement by the electoral panel seemed designed to reinforce this narrative of a credible process. Beyond Ikem, other key officers elected include Mr. Polite as Deputy Chairman (1,297 votes), Mr. Joseph O. Bisloff as State Secretary (1,415 votes), and Florence Kira as State Woman Leader (1,487 votes).
Despite the show of force and the declaration of a new executive, the underlying tensions point to a rocky path ahead for the PDP in the state. The incoming chairman’s strategy of isolating critics, rather than reconciling them, sets the stage for a potential prolonged internal crisis, even as the party officially turns its focus to the 2027 general elections.
For now, the Ikem-led faction has successfully staged its congress and installed its leadership, but the task of uniting a divided house remains its most immediate and formidable challenge.
