BY, :VITALIS UGOH, Calabar
Stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Cross River State have debunked rumours that the party is crisis and is no longer as “one PDP family”, in the state.
As a result, there is no parallel or ward chapter executives as created by some disgruntled persons within the party who feels that they have nothing any longer to offer.
These remarks were made by the Cross River State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ntufam Edim Inok Edim, Calabar South Chapter Chairman, Mr. Felix Offiong and other stakeholders while speaking to newsmen in Calabar.
Recently the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP had recognised the Chapter and Ward executives of the party through a letter dated April 26 and signed by its National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd) saying any other list like the one dated April 27 is fake.
The National body of the party also went ahead to extend the tenure of the of the Ntufam Edim Inok Edim led State executive by three months.
However, it was gathered that some persons in the state especially in Calabar South still parade themselves as the chapter and ward executives of the party contrary to the directives from the NWC.
The state Chairman of PDP, the Calabar South Chapter Chairman, .Mr. Offiong, immediate past Chapter Chairman of Calabar South, Mr. Joseph Effiom otherwise known as Bella and other stakeholders have at different occasions said the PDP is one in the state and there is no parallel executives anywhere.
Edim said, “the issue of disagreements during elections has always been there. It’s a recurring decimal in politics. There’s no how you’d do elections at any level that you’d not have people who are dissatisfied, but at the same time, the governor has been saying repeatedly that everyone in Cross River is one. He has even set up a reconciliation team that went round, and now the National Chairman has directed me to ensure that there’s reconciliation which is in the pipeline”.
“I have sent out a notice to the National Assembly members but because of this COVID-19, movement is only by land and they have also started their plenary so it is very difficult for us to convene now; maybe in the near future… PDP is a family, it’s one”.
At the Stakeholders meeting of PDP Calabar South Chapter held on June 13,, the Chapter Chairman, Mr. Offiong addressed the issue of impostors parading themselves as Chapter executives, stressing that “the only authentic and formally recognised chapter as well as Wards executives are the ones sent in by the PDP, NWC, Abuja”.
Offiong who quickly added that he was not going to hinder the meetings of such impostors as “they are obviously and indirectly working for the party”, went ahead to officiate the formal introduction of the authentic Wards chairmen as he appreciated the State governor, Senator Ben Ayade for his effort in bringing peace to the party.
He also acknowledged the feats of Governor Ayade on the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, giving him kudos for his preventive approach, adding that his numerous appointments has put food on the table and take youth of the streets as it is hoped that his vision on industrialisation and others have the propensity of enhancing massive employment in the state.
On his part, Effiom urged the new executives to exhibit temerity and shun dissonance in their general relationship with party members, saying that “the ascendancy of the present chapter chairman is divine and predestined as he is a man who has the grassroots interest at heart”.
Effiom who assured Governor Ayade that the Calabar South Chapter and Wards executives shall give him 100 percent support, said loyalty from the stakeholders, Wards and Chapter executives is all that is required to keep the party as one and as it is there is no division.
