The crisis rocking the People Democratic Party (PDP) Cross River state chapter deepens following the formation of Movement for the Restoration of Cross River PDP, (MFTROCR) by protesting members of the National Assembly and stakeholders.
The NASS members of some founding fathers of the party boycotted the ward and local government congresses in protest against the alleged handpicking of ward, chapter and state executives members by the party as directed Governor Ben Ayade.
The ward and local congresses of the party were held on Saturday, March 7 and March 21, 2020 across the 196 wards and 18 councils respectively.
The group’s spokesperson, Comrade Raymond Takom, said it was quite unfortunate, that the majority of the National Assembly members, foundation members, former elected and political office holders that built the party from the scratch were thrown out of the party.
Takom, who is a pioneer member, said since the inception of the party, they have never witnessed such level of impunity during congresses, and called on the national leadership of the party to cancel it.
“If you have been following the congresses, you can observe that the key party members including the National Assembly, some state lawmakers and party chieftains have all boycotted the exercise because it was a sham. Some of us don’t even know who are ward or chapter officers in a party that preaches democracy.
“There was no consultation of any form neither were due processes followed in conducting the congresses in line with the party constitution as the party secretariat refused to sell forms to candidates.
“All we can say is that the party chairman on instruction wrote down the names of their favourites as party officers across board. The PDP is in comatose in the state. It is quite unfortunate that internal democracy is being undermined”
But dismissing the allegations that National Assembly members boycotted the congresses, the state Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr Egbung Odama, said the congresses were conducted in consultation with relevant stakeholders from wards to chapter levels.
Egbung maintained that the PDP still remains one indivisible family and everything would be done to carry everybody along as they reposition the party ahead of 2023, “For the chapter congress, it was conducted in some places through affirmation and where they don’t agree they vote.
“It is not true that members of the National Assembly boycotted it. Some of them who could not make it have sent in apologies just as some called to congratulate the party for the successful conduct of the congresses. So, no Ill feelings as being bandied about.”
