Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State staged a massive protest on Monday at the party’s secretariat, opposing any plans to reinstate the ousted state chairman, Mr. Venatius Ikem. Demonstrators from various wards and local government areas marched with placards bearing inscriptions such as “Ikem must go” and “All wards and local governments reject Vena,” demanding that the party leadership uphold Ikem’s removal for the party’s progress.

Leading the protest, Calabar Municipality chairman, Mr. Bassey Asuquo, criticized Ikem’s leadership, alleging it caused stagnation in the party’s activities within the state. Asuquo warned that PDP members were ready to abandon the party if Ikem were reinstated, urging the national leadership to align with the State Working Committee’s (SWC) decision to remove him. “His return would not only divide us but could destroy the little progress we have achieved as a party in Cross River,” Asuquo declared.

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The protest stems from the SWC’s recent resolution to oust Ikem over accusations of financial mismanagement and ineffective leadership. Despite the allegations, Ikem has dismissed his removal as unconstitutional and has threatened legal action to challenge the decision.

In an effort to calm tensions, Chief Dennis Nkiri, the PDP deputy state chairman, addressed the protesters, assuring them that the leadership was committed to resolving the crisis in the best interest of the party. Nkiri emphasized that steps would be taken to safeguard the party’s unity and ensure its growth ahead of future political contests in the state.