Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State held a protest against what they claim is a plan by the National Working Committee to reinstate the removed state chairman of the party.
The protest, yesterday (Monday), involved various local chapters and key stakeholders of the party across the region, showcasing their discontent with placards bearing various messages. The protesters warned that they would leave the party if Mr. Venatius Ikem, the ousted chairman, is reinstated.
Some of the placards displayed included: ‘Ikem must go’, ‘All wards and local governments chapter rejects Vena’, and ‘The decision of the Cross River State Working Committee (SWC) is the best for the party.’
Led by Mr. Bassey Asuquo, the chairman of Calabar Municipality, the demonstrators asserted that Ikem’s removal was a positive step for the party. Asuquo emphasized that the party members no longer wanted Ikem in charge, arguing his leadership had stalled the party’s progress in Cross River.
“The national committee should allow Ikem to leave for the good of the PDP in Cross River. If he isn’t removed, we will abandon the party,” he declared.
Chief Dennis Nkiri, the party’s deputy state chairman, assured the protesters that appropriate actions would be taken for the party’s advancement. Meanwhile, Mr. Mike Ojisi, the state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, remarked, “We need to remove Jonah from the boat to prevent it from sinking.”
It’s worth noting that the SWC had recently dismissed Ikem amidst allegations of financial misconduct, authoritarian behavior, and incompetence.
In response, the ousted chairman called his removal unconstitutional and threatened legal action against the decision.
