Cross River PDP Suspends State Chairman Venatius Ikem

Calabar, Cross River State – The Cross River State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended its State Party Chairman, Venatius Ikem Esq.

Ikem was suspended on Friday by the State Executive Committee of the party, which cited “disregard over higher leadership and authority” as one of the reasons for the suspension.

Briefing newsmen shortly after the suspension at the party’s State Secretariat in Calabar, Chief Igwe Godwin Abeng, Chairman of Chapter Chairmen’s Forum, Cross River State, said, “We have come as a forum to reaffirm the decision of the State Executive Committee that today, being the 15th of November 2024, the State Chairman, Barrister Venatius Ikem, is being suspended and the Acting Chairman, Chief Austin Ediba, Vice Chairman (North), has been appointed to take the affairs of this great party to the level at which we all desire.”

Abeng, who is also the Chapter Chairman of Obubra Local Government Area, also stated that the position of the Acting Chairman was being zoned to the Senatorial District (North) from which the suspended Chairman hails.

Chief Igwe Godwin Abeng, Chairman of PDP Chapter Chairmen’s Forum, Cross River State, with other Chapter Chairmen Briefing Newsmen on November 15, 2024. Photo: Frank Ulom/Converseer

Parts of the resolution to suspend Barr. Ikem which was addressed to the Acting National Chairman of the Party on November 15, and copied the Peoples Democratic Party, South South Zone, Distinguished Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, HE Mr Donald Duke, HE Sen. Liyel Imoke, Sen. Sandy Ojang Onor, Sen. Gershom Bassey, and HE Effiok Cobham, stated that: “The Chairman has contravened the provisions of Article 58 of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party, 2017 as amended; and whereas, we have exhausted all avenues to address these issues through internal dispute resolution mechanisms.”

The resolution which was obtained by Converseer on the same day added that “Pursuant to Article 59 of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party, 2017 as amended, it is hereby resolved as follows:

• The Chairman (Barr. Venatius Ikem) be and is hereby suspended from office with immediate effect.
• The Vice Chairman, North (Chief Austin Edibe), who is from the same Zone/Area with the suspended Chairman as enshrined in Article 45 of the Constitution of the People’s Democratic Party, 2017 as amended and he shall assume duties of the Acting Chairman until a new Chairman is elected.
• As the law abhors a vacuum, Mr Julius Udayi shall replace Chief Austin Edibe as the Acting Vice Chairman, North, pending when the Party will convene to elect new Executives.
• The removed Chairman shall return all Party properties and documents in his possession immediately.

The resolution was signed by the following members of the State Executive Committee of the party:

Hon. Dennis Nkiri (Deputy Chairman)

Mr Tony Edako (Secretary)

Chief Austin Edibe (Vice Chairman

Hon. by Ajogbor (Vice Chairman Central)

Hon, Asuquo Ekpo (Vice Chairman South)

Hon. Florence Inyang (Women Leader)

Mr Jack Ntol (Treasurer)

Mr Brown Odey (Youth Leader)

Barr. lkpi Ubana Eyong – (Legal Adviser)

Hon. Francis Ekeng (Organising Secretary)

Prince Michael Ojisi (Publicity Secretary)

Edadi Edadi Ekup (Financial Secretary)

Bassey Oke Ifere (State Youth Leader South)

Comrade Egbe Awo (Ast. Organising Secretary Central)

Hon. Agabi Jacob (Youth Leader North)

Barr. Raymond Inyang – (Assistant Legal Adviser)

Mrs Abu Mary Agbo (Assistant Women Leader, North)

Paul Agbo Ito (Assistant Publicity Secretary)

Hon. Rita Ekpenyong (Assistant State Secretary, South)

Engr. Eleng E. Edu (Ex-Officio)

Hon. Achu James Bebia (Ex-officio)

Comrade Rita Okokon (Ex-Officio)

Josephine Egbe (Asst Women Leader Central)

David Ovat (Asst. Secretary, Central)

Joseph Esse (Assistant Secretary, North)

Chief lgwe Godwin Abeng (Chapter Chairman, Obubra)

Odidi Emmanuel Achong (Chapter Chairman, Ogoja)

Julius Ebi Eyam (Chapter Chairman, Ikom)

Victor Bassey Emmanuel (Chapter Chairman, Abi)

Hon. Etim Bassey Effiong (Chapter Chairman, Akpabuyo)

Hon. David Oko (Chapter Chairman, Bekwarra)

Hon. Offiong Felix Umoh (Chapter Chairman, Calabar South),

Eyong Enang Omini (Chapter Chairman, Yakurr)

Benjamin Mbey (Chapter Chairman, Akamkpa)

Hon. Okon Edem Ita (Chapter Chairman, Bakassi)

Obia Ikika (Chapter Chairman, Biase)

Ayang David Ayang (Chapter Chairman, Etung)

Bassey Asuquo Edet (Chapter Chairman, Calabar Municipal)

Duke Orok Bassey (Chapter Chairman, Odukpani)

Hon. Assemble Ephraim (Chapter Chairman, Obanliku)

Hon. Eji Friday Igelle (Chapter Chairman, Yala)

Hon. Fabian Okwajie (Chapter Chairman, Boki)

The Committee stated the following reasons as to why Ikem was suspended:

• The Cross River State PDP Chairman (Barr. Venatius Ikem) has failed to perform his duties as outlined in our party Constitution;
• 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;
• 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;
• 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.

Abeng, who was accompanied by the Chapter Chairmen from the 18 LGAs while briefing the press, stated, “As a forum, we are reaffirming what we have done a few minutes ago.

“We are here as the Chapter Chairmen Forum of Cross River State to state categorically that we cannot leave our party to die. Our sacrifices for over four years and some months cannot be in vain.

“After when we lost some of our leaders, like the former Governor of our state (Sen. Ben Ayade) and other critical stakeholders, as Chairmen of our party who automatically are caucus leaders of our various Local Governments, we put it upon ourselves to see the way at which we can drive this process and bring back our party. One person cannot drag us behind at every given time.

“Cross River State has been a PDP state and because of that lack of leadership direction, we lost our 2023 general election to the level at which a lot of leaders have defected – all because our Chairman lacks understanding, leadership and advice.

“We, as the caucus leaders of the 18 Local Government Areas, have come today to stand as a force behind this party. We are doing this and will continue to do it for the glory of our state, our country Nigeria and the betterment of our party.”

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