Cynthia Ezegwu
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed claims that it conducted a state congress in Cross River, insisting that no such exercise took place.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, made the clarification on Monday in Abuja, while reaffirming the party’s readiness to hold an all-inclusive national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16.
Ologunagba described as false reports that a congress took place in Calabar, saying those who gathered in the state were engaged in pre-carnival activities and not any PDP function.
“Clearly, there’s no State Congress held in Cross River State for the PDP. You cannot gather people to drink and then call it a congress. That’s hallucination. There’s a process for holding congresses, and the National Working Committee did not constitute any electoral panel for Cross River,” he said.
The clarification follows conflicting letters to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
While Damagum, with the backing of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, informed INEC of the postponement of congresses in Cross River, Plateau, and Kebbi States, Anyanwu, a close ally of former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, insisted that the congresses would go ahead as earlier scheduled.
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Ologunagba, however, assured that a new date would be announced for the Cross River congress, while stressing that the party’s focus remains on delivering a credible and all-inclusive national convention.
On speculation about the possible return of former President Goodluck Jonathan as a PDP presidential candidate in 2027, Ologunagba clarified that Jonathan remains a member of the party, but maintained that the PDP already has an array of qualified leaders capable of representing the party.
He added that the upcoming convention would help reposition the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.