The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State, Venatius Ikem, has resigned with immediate effect, citing a crisis of direction and leadership coherence within the party ahead of the 2027 general election.
Ikem announced his decision in a letter dated October 16, 2026, addressed to the PDP National Secretary in Abuja and the state party secretary in Calabar.
He said his decision followed a careful assessment of the party’s internal challenges, which he believed had made it increasingly difficult for him to discharge his responsibilities effectively.
“In my considered view, the party is presently grappling with a crisis of direction and leadership coherence,” he said, warning that the situation could undermine the efforts and aspirations of loyal party members.
Ikem added that divergent positions within the party had weakened its ability to pursue a united course as the country approached a critical electoral period.
Despite his resignation, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve as state chairman over the past five years.
He acknowledged the support of party leaders, including Senator Sandy Onor, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe and PDP national leader Nyesom Wike. He also thanked party members across the state, particularly those from his constituency in Obudu.
Ikem said he remained committed to the progress and development of Cross River State and Nigeria, while wishing the PDP success in its future endeavours.
His resignation has triggered concerns among party members and political observers about the implications for the opposition party as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
A PDP chieftain in Obubra, Daniel Abang, described the development as a major setback, saying it had created a leadership vacuum at a difficult time for the party.
“By resigning now, the party enters the election year without a substantive chairman,” Abang said, warning that the process of appointing a replacement or conducting a congress could trigger further internal disputes.
Another party stalwart in Calabar Municipality, Emmanuel Effiom, said Ikem’s resignation exposed the depth of the party’s internal divisions.
He pointed to the outgoing chairman’s reference to a “crisis of direction and leadership coherence”, arguing that the statement reflected persistent disagreements among influential groups within the state chapter.
Effiom said Ikem had attempted to maintain a balance between different interests in the party, but his departure raised questions about the sustainability of that arrangement.
Rita Ndoma, a member of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, warned that the resignation could affect the PDP’s grassroots structures, particularly in Obudu and northern Cross River.
She said Ikem had spent five years working to rebuild the party’s structures across local government areas and that his departure could demoralise ward and local government executives loyal to him.
An African Democratic Congress supporter and businessman, Ubong Ekanem, suggested that the resignation could precede a wave of defections, although Ikem has not announced plans to leave the PDP.
Ekanem said the former chairman’s reference to the need for “a clearer vision and a new pathway” could signal a change in his political direction, adding that any move accompanied by his supporters could further weaken the PDP in northern Cross River.
Meanwhile, the APC chapter chairman in Biase Local Government Area, Bassey Sunday, described the development as an advantage for the ruling party.
He said the PDP’s internal difficulties could weaken its ability to present a united challenge to Governor Bassey Otu’s re-election bid.
Political analysts have urged the PDP’s National Working Committee to move quickly to prevent the leadership dispute from escalating. They recommended appointing an acting chairman acceptable to the party’s different camps and convening a reconciliation meeting.
They also warned that a poorly managed congress could lead to parallel party executives and litigation, further complicating the PDP’s preparations for the next election.
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