EXCLUSIVE: C' River Former PDP Chairman, Ikem, Hundreds Of Supporters Set To Defect To APC
By Bassey BASSEY
FORMER Cross River State opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) state chairman, Vanitius Ikem, Esq, and hundreds of supporters have concluded arrangements to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), THE BEAGLE NEWS can authoritatively report.
Ikem on Friday, October 16, 2026 resigned as state chairman of PDP citing irreconcilable differences, lack of cohesion and direction within the party. Ikem has also expressed reservations with the party national leadership, questioning the essence of Rainbow Coalition.
Ikem has been the chairman of the party in that last five years and has remained steadfast. He led the party to 2023 general elections in which the party recorded some measurable success at the polls winning a Senate seat, two House of Representatives, and three state Assembly members, making the party a strong leading party in the state.
However, the cookies crumbled when some top party members shortly after the election started defecting. The Gale of defection has continued unabated as all those elected on the platform of PDP had defected to the ruling APC.
Defection got to a climax with the defection of Ikem, which watchers of state politics described as "political sucker punch."
Impeccable sources close to APC revealed to THE BEAGLE NEWS that Ikem has consulted with top APC leadership in the state and is set to join the party this weekend.
The source said arrangements are in top gear to giving the former PDP helmsman a rousing welcome officially into the party at Obubu, his home town.
Party leadership is said to be mobilising who-is-who in the APC to strom Obudu and make a statement with Ikem's defection.
PDP Dismisses fears
Reacting to Vena Ikem's defection, the state leadership of PDP in a separate statement issued by the Secretary and the Publicity Secretary, Joe Bisong and Mike Ojisi respectively, dismissed fears over the chairman's resignation, saying the structure is in intact and they remain focused.
The party gave the assurance in a statement issued on Sunday by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Mike Ojisi, urging members, supporters, and stakeholders to remain calm.
The PDP described the reason as his personal opinion, insisting that the party remained united and committed to its political objectives ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
“The resignation of one man, however highly placed, does not and cannot collapse a party as big as the PDP,” the statement said.
It added that the party was built around its members, ideology, and collective aspirations rather than any individual.
The statement said the party’s structures, from the ward to the state level, remained intact across the 18 local government areas and 196 wards of Cross River.
It also expressed confidence in the leadership of the party’s elders, stakeholders, and its governorship candidate, Sir Dr Arthur Jarvis-Archibong, saying the party had a clear direction.
According to the statement, the PDP’s objective is to win the 2027 governorship election and restore hope to Cross Riverians.
The party urged its members to remain loyal and focused while cautioning against rumours and attempts to create confusion following the chairman’s resignation.
It said the party’s constitution provided for succession and that the State Working Committee would meet to announce an acting chairman to oversee its affairs pending the appointment of a substantive chairman.
The statement added that party activities would continue as scheduled, assuring support groups, youth and women groups, as well as coordinators across the state, that its political structure remained strong.
The PDP thanked Ikem for his service to the party and wished him well in his future endeavours.
THE BEAGLE NEWS
