The Cross River State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has broken ranks with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike-led faction of the party by unveiling its chairmanship candidate for the September 27 Congress.
In shunning Wike’s overtures, the Party’s caucus in Cross River central senatorial district on Thursday unveiled Tim Ekawu as their candidate for the forthcoming State congress, insisting that they have no apologies for taking the stand.
With the latest development, the district has now joined its southern senatorial district counterpart, which earlier on Wednesday, also pledged their support for Ekawu, in defiance of the State Party caucus considered loyal to the former Rivers State governor
Rising from their Stakeholders’ meeting, the Central senatorial district caucus unanimously noted that Wike is now a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and is not in any position to dictate what happens in the PDP.
For them, no external force, including Wike, will be allowed to determine who becomes the Party’s next State chairman, insisting that only the PDP’s structures and procedures can determine its next leadership.
The Caucus blamed transactional politics being played by some of its members for the Party’s woes, and agreed to ensure internal cohesion while working towards reclaiming the state as well as the Presidency come 2027.
In a communique signed by Anthony Edako, who is also the State Secretary of the PDP, the Caucus endorsed the Party’s decision regarding the date and venue for the national convention.
Similarly, the Caucus threw its weight behind the PDP National Woman Leader, Mrs Amina Darasimi, for her efforts at repositioning the party in Cross River State, even as it also express implicit support for the candidature of Mr Anthony Edako as the Party’s State Secretary in the upcoming congresses.
According to the communique, “The meeting without equivocation pledges it’s unalloyed support for the candidate of Tim Ekawu for the position of state chairman of PDP
“The PDP, after four years, needs the calm and level-headed leadership that Ekawu brings to the table.”
