The Peoples Democratic Party chairman in Cross River, Venatius Ikem, has been removed by the State Working Committee.

The 14 SWC members, excluding the sacked chairman and the state auditor, were under suspension and signed the letter dated November 15, which announced the chairman’s removal.

Similarly, the 18 local government chairmen of the party also endorsed the removal of the chairman at a press briefing at the party’s Secretariat in Calabar on Friday.

They hinged his removal on allegations of misappropriation of funds, high handedness and inability to manage the state’s chapter of the PDP.

The leadership in their resolution accused the sacked chairman of failure to perform his duties as outlined in the party constitution.

“Whereas his actions have been detrimental to the party’s interest and well-being, and as a result, he has brought the party into disrepute, hatred and contempt.

“Whereas, the chairman neglects to carry out lawful directives of the party, mismanages the finances of the party, does not pay party dues and does not call for meetings or attend meetings regularly as required by the Party’s Constitution,” the SWC’s resolution said.

It added, “Whereas, the chairman engages in anti-party activities and conduct likely to cause disaffection among members of the party or is likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of the business of the party.

“Whereas, the chairman has contravened the provisions of Article 58 of the Constitution of the People’s Democratic Party, 2017 as amended; whereas, we have exhausted all avenues to address these issues through internal dispute resolution mechanisms.

“And in pursuant to Article 59 of the Constitution of the People’s Democratic Party, 2017 as amended,  the Chairman is hereby suspended from office with immediate effect.”

Meanwhile, the chairman of the forum of chapter chairmen of  PDP, Chief Godwin Abeng, who addressed the media alongside other chairmen, said Mr Ikem’s removal was a good omen for the party in Cross River.

He attributed the poor outing of the PDP in the 2023 general elections to the poor leadership direction of the removed chairman.

“We hereby endorsed his removal by the SWC and know that the party will now progress and also start  preparation for the 2027 elections in earnest,” said the SWC.

Following Ikem’s removal, Austin Edibe, vice-chairman of the northern senatorial district of the party, has been appointed as the party’s acting chairman in Cross River.

Also, Julius Udayi has been appointed as the acting vice-chairman of the North.

Meanwhile, Mr Ikem has denied the allegations against him, saying that the process of his alleged removal was faulty.

(NAN)