I Remain C'River PDP State Chairman, Purported Dissolution Of SEC Unconstitutional, Says Ikem
Cross River State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Venatius Ikem, Esq, has stated unequivocally that the purported dissolution of State Executive Committee of by National Working Committee (NWC) is unconstitutional.
Ikem maintained that the constitution of the PDP ( as Amended) has never approved chats on social media platforms, adding that "meetings" of the party have genuine channels for convening its NWC meetings on crucial issues such as this or any one for that matter.
Recall that NWC of PDP in a letter dated September 18, 2025, dissolved the Cross River State Executive Committee and directed the South South Zonal Caretaker Committee to take charge of the state chapter.
According to a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the move was taken to prevent a leadership vacuum in the affairs of the party in the state as tenure of the elected executive expired on Thursday, September 18, 2025.
“This decision by the NWC is to ensure that there is no vacuum in the affairs of the Party in Cross River State before the emergence of a new State Executive for the Chapter,” the statement read.
"The caretaker committee, led by Chief Emmanuel Ogidi, has been mandated to liaise with the NWC for the conduct of the state congress. The congress has been fixed for Saturday, 27th September, 2025, to elect a new executive committee for the chapter.
“By this, the South South Zonal Caretaker Committee led by Chief Emmanuel Ogidi is directed to liaise with the NWC for the conduct of the Year 2025 State Congress in Cross River State to elect a new Executive Committee for the Chapter on Saturday, 27th September, 2025,” the statement said.
The NWC further appealed to party leaders, stakeholders and members in Cross River State to remain calm and work in unity ahead of the congress.
Ikem in a statement titled "Re: Purported Dissolution of Cross River State Executive Committee of the PDP," said the Cross River state Executive committee of the PDP was inaugurated on September 29, 2021 and therefore tenure ends on September, 29 2025. This is reason why the NWC fixed 27th September for the Cross River State Congress
The statement reads in part: "The National Working Committee never convened or held a meeting this day to take such a decision at a crucial time in our history. We challenge any of its members to tell us where such a meeting held.
"The Constitution of the People's Democratic Party ( as Amended) has never approved chats on social media platforms as "eetings" of the Party or genuine channels for convening its NWC meetings on crucial issues such as this or any one for that matter.
"That the purported dissolution is illegal and a deliberate attempt to install an unpopular State Executive Committee of the Party with persons who cannot otherwise win at the legitimate state Congress of the party scheduled to take place on the 27th of September. This is a deliberate abuse of office and an affront to the Constitution of the Party.
"That serial abuse of the powers of the NWC purporting to act on behalf of the National Executive Committee of the Party is a complete abuse of their powers."
Ikem, therefore, urged the teeming supporters in the state to remain law-abiding as we will not allow enemies of the party to use the instrumentality of the NWC to derail the party from the progress we have recorded over time.
