Separate discordant letters by the national chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,
Umar Damagum, and its National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, on the conduct of the party’s State Congress in Cross River, have heightened the lingering crisis in the party.
In the letters submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the two leaders took a different stand on the development.
Damagum, in his letter informed the Commission on September 25 about the postponement of the congresses in Cross River, Plateau, and Kebbi States, while Anyanwu, in a separate letter notified the Commission that the Cross River congress would proceed as planned on September 27.
Following the conduct of the Congress, the PDP National Working Committee, NWC, has, however, nullified Cross River State Congress and approved the formation of a Caretaker Committee to oversee the affairs of the party in the state.
The nullification was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, which sited
the party’s constitutional provisions (as amended in 2017) as reason for the decision.
Ologunagba clarified that while some individuals assembled in Calabar on Saturday, no congress actually took place in the state.
The party’s spokesman pointed out that the NWC’s action to set up a Caretaker Committee the state follows the expiration of the tenure of the State Executive Committee of the Cross River State Chapter having been elected four years ago.
“The Caretaker Committee is to manage the affairs of the Party in Cross River State from Wednesday, October 1st, 2025 for a period not exceeding 3 months, or until such a time a new State Executive Committee will be elected in the State.
“The members of the Cross River State PDP Caretaker Committee are: Bassey Eko Ewa (Chairman), Bassey Joseph (Acting Secretary). Other members include Joe Ekpe Edet, Udie Mike, Lynne Bassey, Etim Okon, Ankot Cohbom, Ofana Raphael Odo, Onun Inyang Unoh, Ebaye Akunjom, Godswill Obindim, Edem Ekong, Raymond Abo, Moses Bisuakefe, Agabi Dominic Oko, Walter Nandi Esom, Ekpo Asuquo, and Victor Erig Takon.
“The NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our Party in Cross River State to remain united and continue to work together for the progress of the Party”, the statement said.
