By Ehigimetor Igbaugba, NAN
CALABAR (NAN, CONVERSEER) – The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has postponed the state congress in Cross River, which was earlier scheduled for Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the South-South Vice Chairman of the party and caretaker of the Cross River chapter, Emma Ogidi, announced the postponement in a press briefing in Calabar on Wednesday.
He said that the postponement was to give room to address and reconcile members of the party on the lingering crisis in the state chapter.
Ogidi said the crisis in the state chapter of the PDP was openly displayed when he and his team were not received by the leadership of the state secretariat on Wednesday
According to him, “I arrived there (state secretariat) with my colleagues, and what we saw was very surprising.
“Because the NWC had issued instructions that we were supposed to take over the affairs of the State Chapter.
“When I arrived, I made contact with the chairman, who ignored me, and I went to the Secretariat, where we were not received. Although we knew they were in the offices, they didn’t show any regard.
“We did some investigation. We saw that all is not well in the state and once all is not well, our job is to also make sure we reconcile everybody.
“So, I have already informed my colleagues, and then they have said that we should try to mend fences before they can give a new date.
“Our job is just starting. We will be in Calabar, and we will talk with stakeholders and see how we can work together. That’s why we are here.”
Ogidi said the party will be hard on those who refuse to abide by the party’s constitution and directives.
“We are one people, and that is all we are going to tell everybody.
If they don’t follow, then they are out.
“I don’t want to defend the PDP because we’re giving the mandate to run the party, and we are not going to dignify anybody sharing that position with us,” he warned.
Meanwhile, the Venatius Ikem led State Working Committee (SWC) says the congress will hold on Saturday.
“My attention has been drawn to the purported postponement of the PDP State Congress slated for the 27th of September, 2025.’
In a statement personally signed by him, Ikem urged the party members to disregard any notice of the purported postponement.
“On behalf of the SWC of the party, and indeed the state Caucus of the party, I hereby inform you that the Congress will proceed as scheduled and in accordance with the party Constitution.
“Party leaders are therefore encouraged to go ahead with preparations for the said Congress without any distractions,” he stated.
(NAN)
