Ota Udeh
The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, loyal to Senator Tanimu Turaki, SAN, in Cross River State says the rival faction of the party in the state is collapsing, following the resignation of Mr. Venatius Ikem Esq. as State Chairman.
The position was contained in a press release read at a press briefing in Calabar earlier on Saturday by the Turaki-led faction’s gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Julius Udayi Koly.
In the release titled “The Collapse of Rainbow Coalition in Cross River State!!!”, Julius Udayi described Ikem’s exit from the PDP as the end of what he termed the “Wike’s faction” and its “Rainbow Coalition” in the state.
The release states in part: “Just recently you all heard that Mr. Venatius Ikem Esq. who was imposed by the Wike’s faction as a factional Chairman of the PDP in Cross River State, who previously had an assignment to project and deliver certain candidates of the rainbow Coalition in line with Governor Wike political theory, has resigned his membership of the party.”
Udayi, who claimed that he and his deputy governorship candidate, Mr. Ebri Inah, alongside all other candidates nominated by the Turaki-led Caretaker Committee are the authentic flag bearers of the PDP in Cross River State, said the resignation was not unconnected with a pending Court of Appeal judgment.
According to him, “The resignation of Mr. Ikem is not unconnected with the expected outcome of the awaited Court Judgment pending and loading to be delivered soon from the Nigerian Court of Appeal. We are gladdened because the ‘chaff will soon be separated from the weeds’.”
He further claimed that Ikem, whom he described as an experienced lawyer, throwing in the towel at this time was an indication of the end of Wike’s political ploy in the state, and commended him for what he called a spirit of sportsmanship and repentance.
The Turaki loyalist urged his members to remain calm, law-abiding and united, expressing confidence that the expected appellate court judgment will affirm his faction’s candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The press release was co-signed by 38 candidates of the Turaki faction, including senatorial candidates Ititim Akomaye Sylvester (Northern), Ntufam Simon Ebuta Ako (Central), Otomoh Edet Edet (South), and House of Representatives and State Assembly candidates across the state.
As at the time of filing this report, the other faction of the PDP in the state led by the Wike camp is yet to react to the claims, while Barr. Venatius Ikem’s resignation letter is still being circulated in political circles in the state.
