By Edem Ekpo
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned that defiant members in its Cross River State chapter risk sanctions, as the party intensifies efforts to resolve lingering internal disputes.
The South-South Zonal Chairman of the PDP, Chief Emmanuel Ogidi, gave the warning on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Calabar.
He explained that the National Working Committee (NWC) had postponed the state congress earlier scheduled for Saturday until further notice to allow time for reconciliation among aggrieved members.
“The party has rules guiding it, and every member is bound to abide by them. Anyone who feels too big to do so will be sanctioned in line with the constitution. We are here for peacebuilding and reconciliation, but it is clear that some are not ready for that,” Ogidi stated.
He stressed that the NWC has the constitutional powers to conduct and, when necessary, postpone state congresses, contrary to claims that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) can do so.
“The NWC is the organ empowered to run the day-to-day affairs of the party. The highest decision-making body is the convention, followed by the NEC. The NWC implements the decisions of these bodies and can also take decisions on their behalf, which are later reported to NEC or the convention for ratification. The NWC therefore has the power to postpone and conduct state congresses and report to NEC for ratification,” he explained.
Recall that the NWC had, on Wednesday, through the National Publicity Secretary, announced the postponement of the congress and the dissolution of the State Working Committee (SWC) over the expiration of its tenure.
However, the purportedly dissolved SWC, led by Venatius Ikem, has insisted that the congress must go on as scheduled, arguing that the NWC lacked the power to stop it.