A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Cross River State, Dr Peter Iyali, has faulted the weekend’s re-election of Venatius Ikem because the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Occasion, PDP, describing it as unlawful and a transfer that may deepen the social gathering’s disaster.
Iyali argued that the congress lacked legitimacy because it was performed by a faction of the social gathering with out the approval of the Nationwide Working Committee, NWC.
He warned that the scenario may lead to two parallel govt committees and even competing NWC members on the nationwide conference.
“You will need to make clear that the purported congress that produced Venatius Ikem, as PDP chairman in Cross River State is factional and lacks the backing of the PDP’s Nationwide Working Committee,” Iyali stated.
He added that the APC was unconcerned about Ikem’s re-election, recalling that the PDP nationwide management had directed the South-South Zonal Committee to take cost of the social gathering’s affairs within the state.
Turning to Senator Jarigbe Agom, who represents Cross River North and is seen because the PDP’s main determine for 2027, Iyali stated the problem was not whether or not he may win re-election however whether or not the social gathering would even discipline candidates in any respect, given its division.
Iyali suggested Jarigbe and his supporters to deal with securing nominations as an alternative of assuming the APC felt threatened. He pointed to the Deputy Governor’s latest tour of the Northern District as proof of APC’s rising momentum, which, in response to him, seemingly prompted Jarigbe’s public present of loyalty to Governor Bassey Otu and the ruling social gathering.
Nevertheless, PDP leaders within the state have dismissed the APC’s place, insisting the congress was legitimate. The 2023 PDP governorship candidate, Prof. Sandy Onor, stated a panel duly licensed by the NWC, notably from the Nationwide Organizing Secretary’s workplace, supervised the train.
Different PDP stalwarts, together with former deputy governor, Effiok Cobham and ex-governorship aspirant Arthur Jarvis, additionally endorsed the congress, describing it as authorized. Senator Jarigbe himself stated Ikem’s emergence was not solely authorized however loved the backing of “98 per cent of social gathering devoted.”
It will likely be recalled that the PDP NWC had earlier dissolved the Ikem-led state working committee, insisting its tenure had expired and warning towards the deliberate congress.
