Following significant setbacks, including the loss of the governorship election last year and dwindling membership, the chairman of the opposition PDP in Cross River State, Vena Ikem, has indicated plans to revamp the party’s structure.
During a stakeholders’ meeting in Calabar, Ikem stated, “We’re going back to rejig our party. We’re going to put things in place. I am not proud to be a chairman that lost governorship elections in the state, but I am proud that I come from a zone where we did a bit different.”
He attributed their loss in the 2023 governorship election to internal wrangling and disunity within the party. “We went for the election with a divided house. This assisted our opponents in winning key positions, including the governorship. We were a divided house, which couldn’t have stood. We had taken the support and success we enjoyed for granted.”
Ikem emphasized the party’s strong grassroots support and took responsibility for the election outcome. He urged PDP stakeholders to prioritize collective interests over personal ambitions to overcome current challenges. “We need to reason with each other. There’s still enthusiasm for the PDP and we will definitely bounce back,” he added.
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Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, representing the Northern Senatorial District, expressed optimism about the party’s future. He noted that the ruling APC is not infallible and encouraged steadfastness among PDP members to capitalize on any mistakes made by the APC. “APC took over due to the mistakes that we made. I don’t think that the APC is infallible. They will definitely make the same mistakes, and that will pave the way for us to take over,” Jarigbe stated.
PDP’s 2023 governorship candidate, Prof. Sandy Onor, reassured party members not to be discouraged by the recent losses. He expressed confidence that the party would recover and regain its footing.
