Former Cross River State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Venatius Ikem, Esq., has attributed his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the internal uncertainties rocking the opposition party, the political direction of his leader, Nyesom Wike, and Governor Bassey Otu’s performance.
Ikem made the disclosure during an appearance on ARISE News Breakfast Show on Thursday, where he offered insights into the considerations that informed his decision to join the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He expressed doubts about the PDP’s ability to remain a formidable political force, pointing to its fractured leadership, dwindling cohesion and lack of a clearly defined national direction.
According to him, the party’s inability to maintain a united political structure, coupled with the movement of prominent members into different camps, has significantly weakened its electoral prospects.
“I see an incumbent who is doing well, and I see our own structures, which are completely dissipated in multiple directions. You find former governors here and there, former senators all over the place. If you tell me that we have a structure that will win elections, I would think you are performing a miracle,” he said.
The former PDP chairman identified the uncertainty surrounding the party’s governorship campaign in Cross River as the decisive factor in his departure, noting that the opposition’s political machinery had struggled to establish traction at both state and national levels.
He also raised concerns about the party’s preparedness for the next general elections, particularly its capacity to galvanise support for its presidential candidate, Professor Sandy Onor.
Explaining the role of Wike in his political journey, Ikem acknowledged that the FCT Minister had contributed significantly to his political advancement and described him as a leader whose political direction he considered important.
He said Wike’s support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election was among the considerations that influenced his decision to move into the APC.
Ikem explained that although he had previously identified with the ruling party from behind the scenes, he had now chosen to become a formal member and participate openly in its political activities.
He also pointed to Governor Otu’s performance as an important consideration, admitting that a reassessment of the administration’s activities had changed his earlier perception of the governor.
Although he acknowledged having criticised Otu in the past, Ikem said his recent observations revealed achievements that had not received adequate public recognition.
“Sometimes it’s easy to criticise and criticise and criticise. But through the last couple of months, I realised that despite his rather, or maybe because of his rather, so much has been accomplished that is not in the forefront of media and publicity,” he stated.
He maintained that several accomplishments of the Otu administration had received limited media exposure, making them less visible to the public than their actual impact might suggest.
On the proposed Rainbow Coalition, Ikem distanced himself from its activities, saying he had neither participated in its discussions nor received any briefing on a possible arrangement involving Cross River.
He said his knowledge of the coalition was limited to media reports, particularly developments in Rivers State and Abuja, adding that he was unwilling to identify with an arrangement whose structure, objectives and electoral strategy were yet to be clearly defined.
Ikem’s defection adds to the political realignments taking place in Cross River as the major parties begin consolidating their structures and strategising for the 2027 general elections.
