The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Cross River chapter has reaffirmed its commitment to holding the scheduled September 27, 2025, congress, despite a statement from the national publicity secretary suggesting a postponement. The State Working Committee, SWC, made this declaration in Calabar on Thursday, with Chairman Venatius Ikem emphasizing that the congress would proceed as planned.

The announcement comes amid a dispute between the state chapter and the national party leadership, which had earlier announced the dissolution of the SWC and directed the South-South Zonal Caretaker committee to take over the state chapter’s affairs. The national leadership cited the expiration of the SWC’s tenure as the reason for this move, aiming to prevent a vacuum in the state leadership.

However, Ikem disputed this claim, arguing that the SWC’s tenure had not expired and was set to end on September 29. He alleged that certain individuals seeking to take control of the state chapter were attempting to create a crisis and that the purported dissolution was intended to pave the way for their preferred candidates in the congress.

Ikem, who is also a member of the party’s National Executive Committee, NEC, pointed out that the NEC had fixed the date for the congress and that the National Working Committee, NWC, lacked the authority to unilaterally change this decision. He emphasized that each organ of the party is empowered to organize its own congress, with the state chapter responsible for organizing its own congress and the national committee monitoring the process.

The SWC chairman expressed confidence that the congress would be successful, with all logistical arrangements in place. He maintained that the NEC or NWC had no right to organize a congress for any state, and that the state chapter was prepared to proceed with the scheduled event. The upcoming congress is expected to be a crucial step in the party’s leadership selection process, and the outcome may have significant implications for the party’s future direction. With the stage set for the September 27 congress, the Cross River chapter of the PDP is poised to move forward with its leadership selection, despite the challenges and disputes that have arisen.