Ex-Cross River PDP Chair Questions Party's Future for 2027

The former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State, Venatius Ikem, has raised doubts about the party's ability to compete with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections. He believes the party's structures are now broken and lack direction.

Ikem stated that the PDP does not have the organizational strength and national leadership needed to win elections, especially against a sitting government. He pointed out that key party members are focused on their own political goals instead of forming a united front.

He shared his thoughts during an interview with ARISE News, which PREMIUM TIMES monitored on Thursday. This was while he discussed his decision to join the APC.

According to Ikem, the PDP's key players, including former governors and senators, are divided among various political groups. This division makes it hard to create a strong opposition that can take on the APC.

"I see an incumbent who is doing well, and I see our own structures, which are completely dissipated in multiple directions. I mean, you find the former governors here and there, former senators all over the place. And if you tell me that we have a structure that will win elections, I would think that you will be performing a miracle," he said.

He also expressed concern about the visibility of the PDP’s Presidential Candidate, Sandy Onor, within the party. He argued that the lack of continuous political activities has weakened the party's efforts to mobilize support in Cross River.

"I’ve never, I mean, my friend, Professor Sandy Onor is the presidential candidate of the party. But as you know, he’s not been visible anywhere to carry out any activities. And we are just floating, so to speak, in this state," he said.

Onor is the 2027 presidential candidate of the PDP faction led by Abdulrahman Mohammed and supported by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Ikem mentioned that his political experience makes it hard to stay in a party without a clear plan for winning elections. He believes the PDP, as it stands now, seems to be just going through the motions without a real chance of winning the next elections.

"And so when you look at the entire contraption as the PDP is now, it’s, with my kind of experience, I come from a very vast experience in politics, as you must know, it becomes difficult for you to hang in there for the sake of hanging in, because you know clearly that the results of the next elections would be either by magic, that they would be in your favour, or you are just going through the motions," he said.

He added that he could not stay in the party without a reasonable hope of winning.

"And I think that at this stage, and with my experience, I cannot go through the motions without expecting a result," he said.

Ikem's criticism comes after he resigned as Cross River PDP chairman on October 19, having served for five years. In his resignation letter, he mentioned the party’s internal conflicts, lack of clear leadership, and failure to pursue a united political path as reasons for his departure.

He later joined the APC, mentioning the party’s political direction and his views on the current administration.

His comments arise during a time when the PDP is facing a major leadership crisis, marked by internal disputes, defections of key politicians, and uncertainty about its ability to challenge effectively in the 2027 elections.