By Edem Ekpo
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State, Barr. Venatius Ikem, has insisted that the state congress scheduled for Saturday, September 27, 2025, will go ahead as planned.
Reacting to the announcement by the National Working Committee (NWC) postponing the congresses in Cross River and Plateau states, Ikem maintained that the national body has no constitutional authority to override the decision of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
Ikem also dismissed claims that his tenure had expired, stressing that his leadership remains valid until September 29, 2025. He alleged that some party stakeholders were attempting to create an artificial crisis in order to impose predetermined candidates on the state chapter.
“The NWC is not the NEC, of which I am a member. The NEC of the party fixed September 27 for the congress. The few members of the NWC cannot sit somewhere and issue directives that override the NEC. They have no moral, legal, or constitutional authority to do so,” Ikem declared.
He accused those behind the confusion of being sympathizers of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) who, according to him, have already moved to establish a new coalition party in the state but are scheming to plant their stooges within the PDP as a bargaining chip.
“These are ADC apologists who have shifted loyalty but still want to infiltrate the PDP, install their stooges, and use the party as a trading bait. This is the real motive behind the crisis they are manufacturing,” Ikem alleged.
The state chairman emphasized that while the NWC may take decisions on behalf of the NEC in certain circumstances, it has no mandate to alter a congress date fixed by the NEC. He vowed to challenge the move in court if necessary.
“The state congress will be organized by the state chapter. At best, the committee from the national level is to monitor, not dictate,” he stressed.
On the issue of tenure expiration, Ikem explained that the current executive was elected on September 18, 2021, and sworn in on September 29, 2021. “I have submitted my oath of office and allegiance. Anyone who claims otherwise should produce theirs to prove it is different,” he added.
Ikem further disclosed that all logistical arrangements for the congress have been concluded, with delegates expected to begin arriving in Calabar from Friday, September 26.