Tensions flared at the Cross River State secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday, as members staged a protest over the ousting of the state chairman, Mr. Venatius Ikem.

The protest, which was organized by the party’s local government and ward chapters, saw demonstrators carrying placards with messages such as “Ikem must go,” “All wards and local governments chapter rejects Vena,” and “The decision of the Cross River State Working Committee (SWC) is the best for the party.”

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The protesters, led by the Calabar Municipality chairman, Mr. Bassey Asuquo, expressed strong opposition to any efforts to reinstate Ikem.

According to Asuquo, Ikem’s leadership had caused stagnation within the party and hindered its growth in the state.

Asuquo said, “We, the chapter leadership across the state, are in support of anything, including the removal of anyone, that will make the party grow. The national body must let Ikem go for the good of the PDP in Cross River. If he is reinstated, we will leave the party for him.”

The protest follows the removal of Ikem by the Cross River SWC two weeks ago, citing allegations of financial mismanagement, high-handedness, and ineptitude.

Despite this, Ikem has vehemently rejected the decision, claiming that his removal was unconstitutional and threatening legal action.

Deputy state chairman, Chief Dennis Nkiri, received the protesters and assured them that the party would prioritize its growth in any decisions moving forward. “The right thing will be done for the growth of the party,” Nkiri said.

PDP state Publicity Secretary, Mr. Mike Ojisi, also weighed in, likening the party’s situation to a sinking ship in need of immediate course correction. “We want Jonah to be removed from the boat for it not to sink,” Ojisi stated.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has commenced the monitoring of constituency projects worth N21 billion across Kaduna State.

The initiative, aimed at promoting accountability and transparency in the use of public funds, is part of the commission’s broader effort to tackle corruption and ensure the timely completion of government projects.

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Addressing journalists in Kaduna, Chief Superintendent Haruna Aminu, who represented the Constituency and Executive Tracking Department under the leadership of ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, revealed that the commission is currently tracking 60 projects across the state.

“We are here to track about 60 projects across Kaduna State with a total value of N21 billion. We started on Wednesday with the Kafanchan axis, where we tracked at least 21 projects.

“Now we are in Kaduna main town, Kabala area, focusing on projects such as solar-powered streetlights across the town,” Aminu said.

The ICPC team observed progress on some of the projects, but Aminu highlighted concerns over delays and execution challenges.

“Generally, on the solar project, we have seen a level of execution. However, we discovered certain shortcomings. This is a project that touches people’s lives, and we will ensure its completion,” he added.

Aminu stressed that contractors who fail to deliver on their obligations will be held accountable.

“There is no contractor that is going to be skipped. They cannot collect government money and abandon projects. The era of abandoned projects is over. We have clear directives and support to hold defaulters accountable,” he warned.

The delay in completing certain projects, particularly the solar-powered streetlights, has affected the intended impact on communities, Aminu noted.

“These projects are vital to improving livelihoods in Kaduna State. If completed last year as planned, they would have made a significant difference by now,” he said.

The ICPC announced that the next phase of the exercise would focus on taking action against contractors who fail to execute their projects.

The commission reiterated its commitment to ensuring that public funds translate into tangible benefits for citizens.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the outcome of the Ondo State governorship election, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of electoral malpractice, including vote-buying and result manipulation.

This was disclosed during a meeting of the PDP Governors’ Forum on Saturday in Jos, Plateau State.

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The forum, chaired by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, criticized the conduct of the election, which saw APC’s Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa secure a landslide victory for another four-year term in Alagbaka, Akure.

“We are still reviewing documents from the Ondo election, where the APC openly bought votes and manipulated results,” Mohammed said.

He urged the judiciary to “save Nigerian democracy” and called on the National Assembly to strengthen electoral laws to prevent what he described as “institutional sabotage of the people’s will.”

The PDP governors also condemned the September governorship election in Edo State, describing it as a “rape of democracy.”

The forum accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of colluding with the APC to declare its candidate the winner despite claims that the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, had secured the majority of lawful votes.

“INEC blatantly manipulated the results in favor of the APC candidate. This undermines the credibility of our electoral process,” Mohammed said.

Beyond electoral grievances, the governors urged the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) to convene a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting by February 2025.

They emphasized the need for broader consultations with stakeholders to resolve the party’s internal leadership crisis and strengthen its position as the main opposition party.

The forum reiterated its commitment to democratic values and vowed to push for electoral reforms that would restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

The Ondo governorship election has sparked a renewed call for transparency in the country’s electoral system, with the PDP vowing to challenge what it views as a subversion of democracy.