PDP suspends chairman

• The chairman’s removal was contained in a letter dated November 15 and signed by the entire 14 SWC members

The Cross River State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has suspended its chairman, Mr Venatius Ikem.

Ikem was removed from office by the party’s State Working Committee, SWC, over series of allegations that undermine the progress of the party.

The chairman’s removal was contained in a letter dated November 15 and signed by the entire 14 SWC members.

Ikem suspension was endorsed by the 18 local government chairmen of the party at a press briefing at the party’s secretariat in Calabar on Friday.

The party cited allegations of misappropriation of funds, high-handedness and inability to manage the state’s chapter of PDP for Ikem’s removal.

The leadership, in their resolution, accused the sacked chairman of failure to perform his duties as outlined in the party’s constitution.

The resolution reads in part: “Whereas, his actions have been detrimental to the party’s interest and wellbeing; and as a result, he has brought the party into disrepute, hatred and contempt;

“Whereas the Chairman neglects to carry out lawful directives of the party, mismanages the finances of the party, does not pay party dues and does not call for meetings or attend meetings regularly as required by the party’s constitution;

“Whereas the Chairman engages in anti-party activities and conducts likely to cause disaffection among members of the party or is likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of the business of the party;

“Whereas the Chairman has contravened the provisions of Article 58 of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party 2017 as amended;

“Whereas, we have exhausted all avenues to address these issues through internal dispute resolution mechanisms;

“And in pursuant to Article 59 of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party 2017 as amended, the Chairman is hereby suspended from office with immediate effect.”

Meanwhile, the chairman of the forum of chapter chairmen of PDP, Chief Godwin Abeng, who addressed the media alongside other chairmen, said Ikem’s removal is a good omen for the party in Cross River.

He attributed the awful performance of the PDP in the 2023 general elections to the poor leadership direction of the ousted chairman.

“We hereby endorse his removal by the SWC and know that the party will now progress and also start preparation for the 2027 elections in earnest,” he said.

Following Ikem’s removal, Austin Edibe, Vice Chairman of the northern senatorial district of the party, was appointed as the acting chairman of the party in Cross River.