Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State staged a protest at the party secretariat on Monday, expressing their opposition to the alleged plans to reinstate the ousted state chairman, Mr. Venatius Ikem.
The protesters, who were led by the Calabar Municipality chairman, Mr. Bassey Asuquo, claimed that Ikem’s leadership had stagnated the growth of the party in the state.
The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions, including “Ikem must go,” “All ward and local government chapters reject Vena,” and “The decision of the Cross River State Working Committee (SWC) is the best for the party.”
They threatened to leave the party if Ikem is reinstated.According to Asuquo, the removal of Ikem was the best thing to have happened to the party.
He stated that the party faithful no longer wanted Ikem as the party chairman, citing his alleged financial misappropriation, high-handedness, and ineptitude.
Chief Dennis Nkiri, the deputy state chairman of the party, received the protesters and assured them that the right thing would be done for the growth of the party. Similarly, Mr. Mike Ojisi, the state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, emphasized the need for Ikem’s removal, stating, “We want Jonah to be removed from the boat for it not to sink.”
The protest comes after the State Working Committee of the party removed Ikem as chairman over allegations of financial misappropriation, high-handedness, and ineptitude. Ikem has since described his removal as unconstitutional and threatened legal action.
