C'River PDP Gets New Chairman, Throws Weight Behind Wike
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River has ratified Chief Francis Bullem as its substantive State Chairman, while reaffirming its support for the party’s national leader and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike.
The decisions were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the party’s State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting held on Thursday at the party's State Secretariat in Calabar.
The party also endorsed Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, signalling its support for the political platform led by the former Rivers governor.
The communiqué, signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Mr Mike Ojisi, said the SEC acknowledged and accepted the resignation of the former State Chairman, Mr Venatius Ikem.
It said the committee approved the nomination of Bullem and subsequently ratified him as the substantive chairman in accordance with Article 47, Sections 5 and 6 of the PDP Constitution (2017), as amended.
This development is expected to usher in a new leadership phase for the party in the state following Ikem’s resignation.
The SEC also endorsed the Rainbow Coalition led by Wike, describing him as the party’s national leader.
Meanwhile, the committee expressed concern over what it described as incessant attacks on PDP members and other opposition political party members while carrying out legitimate political activities across Cross River.
It condemned the attacks and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights of party members to freely participate in lawful political activities.
The communiqué stressed the need for an atmosphere that would allow political parties and their members to carry out legitimate activities without intimidation or harassment.
The SEC reiterated its commitment to the party’s constitutional provisions and political activities in Cross River.
It would be recalled that Ikem had on October 16 resigned from the PDP, citing internal divisions, a crisis of direction, and leadership incoherence within the party.
The former chairman was to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on October 22.
