Calabar, Cross River State – Chief Austin Edibe, the Vice Chairman (North) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, has taken the oath of office in the position of Acting Chairman following the exit of Barrister Venatius Ikem.
Speaking after taking office on Monday, November 18, at the State Party Secretary in Calabar, Chief Edibe described his emergence as aligned with the party’s constitution, emphasising its guiding strength.
“I feel very humbled, very, very humbled to be given this opportunity to serve as acting chairman of our great party.
“To me, it is more of an accident of the fact that I happen to be the Vice Chairman (North) – Vice Chairman, from the same zone where the Chairman is coming from. And that is why I have assumed this position as the Acting Chairman.
“It shows the strength of our party’s constitution and the fact that as a party, we should always adhere to our party’s constitution,” Edibe stated.
Acknowledging the challenges and opportunities ahead, he highlighted the need for unity and consistent engagement. “I want to assure you that going forward, we will serve this party with all our might. We will do things collectively. I cannot claim that I know everything that needs to be done.
“As an organ of the party, which is the State Executive Committee as well as the State Working Committee, we are going to, at every point in time, work together for the benefit of our party.
“Let me assure you that, from now onward, we will be having more interactions, we will be having more meetings,” he said.
Edibe commended his predecessor, Barrister Ikem, for stabilising the party and pledged to build on his legacy to address the party’s evolving needs.
“I must commend the fact that the former Chairman, Barrister Venatius Ikem, has done so well in the past. He has done what he could and has stabilised the party to the point where it is now.
“There is a yearning that the party needs to move forward and that is the gap that I want to fill going forward.”
He also recognised the commitment of party members during the last local government elections, despite perceived challenges. Edibe said, “The truth of the matter is that our party is loved by everyone. We are greatly loved.
“The last local government elections proved that to us. Even when people knew that, even when party members knew that as we were going out to vote, our votes would not count, they still came out in their numbers to vote for our party.”
The Acting Chairman expressed gratitude to party leaders nationwide for their support and urged continued collaboration to chart a path forward for a stronger PDP in Cross River State.
“So, I will not make this a speech-making day. Let me say, I congratulate all of us, I congratulate the leaders of this party, our leaders out there in Abuja and outside, who thought it wise to stand by us at this very turbulent period, to show that, you know, they belong to this party, they can help us chart the way forward for a better PDP.”
Converseer reports that others who also took the oath of office are Denis Nkiri as Deputy Chairman, and Julius Udayi as Vice Chairman (North).
The oath of office was administered by the party’s Legal Adviser, Raymond Manga Esq.
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