Calabar, Cross River State – The Cross River State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Celebration (PDP) has suspended its State Celebration Chairman, Venatius Ikem Esq.
Ikem was suspended on Friday by the State Govt Committee of the social gathering, which cited “disregard over increased management and authority” as one of many causes for the suspension.
Briefing newsmen shortly after the suspension on the social gathering’s State Secretariat in Calabar, Chief Igwe Godwin Abeng, Chairman of Chapter Chairmen’s Discussion board, Cross River State, stated, “Now we have come as a discussion board to reaffirm the choice of the State Govt Committee that in the present day, being the fifteenth of November 2024, the State Chairman, Barrister Venatius Ikem, is being suspended and the Performing Chairman, Chief Austin Ediba, Vice Chairman (North), has been appointed to take the affairs of this nice social gathering to the extent at which all of us need.”
Abeng, who can also be the Chapter Chairman of Obubra Native Authorities Space, additionally acknowledged that the place of the Performing Chairman was being zoned to the Senatorial District (North) from which the suspended Chairman hails.
Elements of the decision to droop Barr. Ikem which was addressed to the Performing Nationwide Chairman of the Celebration on November 15, and copied the Peoples Democratic Celebration, South South Zone, Distinguished Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, HE Mr Donald Duke, HE Sen. Liyel Imoke, Sen. Sandy Ojang Onor, Sen. Gershom Bassey, and HE Effiok Cobham, acknowledged that: “The Chairman has contravened the provisions of Article 58 of the Structure of the Peoples Democratic Celebration, 2017 as amended; and whereas, we have now exhausted all avenues to deal with these points by means of inner dispute decision mechanisms.”
The decision which was obtained by Converseer on the identical day added that “Pursuant to Article 59 of the Structure of the Peoples Democratic Celebration, 2017 as amended, it’s hereby resolved as follows:
The Chairman (Barr. Venatius Ikem) be and is hereby suspended from workplace with speedy impact.
The Vice Chairman, North (Chief Austin Edibe), who’s from the identical Zone/Space with the suspended Chairman as enshrined in Article 45 of the Structure of the Individuals’s Democratic Celebration, 2017 as amended and he shall assume duties of the Performing Chairman till a brand new Chairman is elected.
Because the regulation abhors a vacuum, Mr Julius Udayi shall change Chief Austin Edibe because the Performing Vice Chairman, North, pending when the Celebration will convene to elect new Executives.
The eliminated Chairman shall return all Celebration properties and paperwork in his possession instantly.
The decision was signed by the next members of the State Govt Committee of the social gathering:
Hon. Dennis Nkiri (Deputy Chairman)
Mr Tony Edako (Secretary)
Chief Austin Edibe (Vice Chairman
Hon. by Ajogbor (Vice Chairman Central)
Hon, Asuquo Ekpo (Vice Chairman South)
Hon. Florence Inyang (Girls Chief)
Mr Jack Ntol (Treasurer)
Mr Brown Odey (Youth Chief)
Barr. lkpi Ubana Eyong – (Authorized Adviser)
Hon. Francis Ekeng (Organising Secretary)
Prince Michael Ojisi (Publicity Secretary)
Edadi Edadi Ekup (Monetary Secretary)
Bassey Oke Ifere (State Youth Chief South)
Comrade Egbe Awo (Ast. Organising Secretary Central)
Hon. Agabi Jacob (Youth Chief North)
Barr. Raymond Inyang – (Assistant Authorized Adviser)
Mrs Abu Mary Agbo (Assistant Girls Chief, North)
Paul Agbo Ito (Assistant Publicity Secretary)
Hon. Rita Ekpenyong (Assistant State Secretary, South)
Engr. Eleng E. Edu (Ex-Officio)
Hon. Achu James Bebia (Ex-officio)
Comrade Rita Okokon (Ex-Officio)
Josephine Egbe (Asst Girls Chief Central)
David Ovat (Asst. Secretary, Central)
Joseph Esse (Assistant Secretary, North)
Chief lgwe Godwin Abeng (Chapter Chairman, Obubra)
Odidi Emmanuel Achong (Chapter Chairman, Ogoja)
Julius Ebi Eyam (Chapter Chairman, Ikom)
Victor Bassey Emmanuel (Chapter Chairman, Abi)
Hon. Etim Bassey Effiong (Chapter Chairman, Akpabuyo)
Hon. David Oko (Chapter Chairman, Bekwarra)
Hon. Offiong Felix Umoh (Chapter Chairman, Calabar South),
Eyong Enang Omini (Chapter Chairman, Yakurr)
Benjamin Mbey (Chapter Chairman, Akamkpa)
Hon. Okon Edem Ita (Chapter Chairman, Bakassi)
Obia Ikika (Chapter Chairman, Biase)
Ayang David Ayang (Chapter Chairman, Etung)
Bassey Asuquo Edet (Chapter Chairman, Calabar Municipal)
Duke Orok Bassey (Chapter Chairman, Odukpani)
Hon. Assemble Ephraim (Chapter Chairman, Obanliku)
Hon. Eji Friday Igelle (Chapter Chairman, Yala)
Hon. Fabian Okwajie (Chapter Chairman, Boki)
The Committee acknowledged the next causes as to why Ikem was suspended:
The Cross River State PDP Chairman (Barr. Venatius Ikem) has did not carry out his duties as outlined in our social gathering Structure;
His actions have been detrimental to the social gathering’s curiosity and wellbeing; and in consequence, he has introduced the social gathering into disrepute, hatred and contempt;
The Chairman neglects to hold out lawful directives of the Celebration, mismanages the funds of the Celebration, doesn’t pay social gathering dues and doesn’t name for conferences or attend conferences frequently as required by the Celebration’s Structure;
The Chairman engages in anti-party actions and conducts more likely to trigger disaffection amongst members of the social gathering or is more likely to disrupt the peaceable, lawful and environment friendly conduct of the enterprise of the Celebration.
Abeng, who was accompanied by the Chapter Chairmen from the 18 LGAs whereas briefing the press, acknowledged, “As a discussion board, we’re reaffirming what we have now carried out a couple of minutes in the past.
“We’re right here because the Chapter Chairmen Discussion board of Cross River State to state categorically that we can not go away our social gathering to die. Our sacrifices for over 4 years and a few months can’t be in useless.
“After once we misplaced a few of our leaders, like the previous Governor of our state (Sen. Ben Ayade) and different vital stakeholders, as Chairmen of our social gathering who robotically are caucus leaders of our numerous Native Governments, we put it upon ourselves to see the best way at which we will drive this course of and convey again our social gathering. One particular person can not drag us behind at each given time.
“Cross River State has been a PDP state and due to that lack of management path, we misplaced our 2023 common election to the extent at which a whole lot of leaders have defected – all as a result of our Chairman lacks understanding, management and recommendation.
“We, because the caucus leaders of the 18 Native Authorities Areas, have come in the present day to face as a drive behind this social gathering. We’re doing this and can proceed to do it for the glory of our state, our nation Nigeria and the betterment of our social gathering.”
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