Former Cross River PDP chair doubts party’s 2027 chances

Former Cross River PDP chairman Venatius Ikem questions the party’s ability to challenge the APC in 2027, describing its structures as fragmented and its Wike-backed presidential candidate, Sandy Onor, as politically invisible.

The former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State, Venatius Ikem, has questioned the opposition party’s capacity to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections, saying its political structures have become fragmented and directionless.

He made the remarks during an interview with ARISE News, monitored by PREMIUM TIMES, on Thursday while explaining his decision to defect to the APC.

Mr Ikem said the party’s prominent figures, including former governors and senators, were scattered across different political camps, making it difficult to build a formidable opposition capable of defeating 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 questioned the visibility of the PDP’s Presidential Candidate, Sandy Onor, within the party, arguing that the absence of sustained political activities had further weakened its mobilisation efforts 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.

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

The former party chairman said his political experience made it difficult to remain in an organisation without a clear strategy for electoral success.

He said the PDP, in its present condition, appeared to be going through political motions without a realistic prospect 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 no longer remain in the party without a reasonable expectation of electoral success.

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

Mr Ikem’s criticism follows his resignation as Cross River PDP chairman on 19 October after five years in the position.

In his resignation letter, he cited the party’s internal divisions, lack of leadership coherence and inability to pursue a united political direction as reasons for his decision.

He subsequently defected to the APC, citing the party’s political direction and his assessment of the incumbent administration.

His remarks come amid the PDP’s prolonged national leadership crisis, which has been marked by factional disputes, defections by prominent politicians and uncertainty over its capacity to mount a strong challenge in the 2027 elections.

PREMIUM TIMES has reported extensively on the crisis, including the party’s internal leadership battles, mass defections and the institutional challenges threatening its electoral prospects.