By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – The Cross River State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has inaugurated its 39 new executive members today, 29th September 2025.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the State Party Secretariat, located on Mary Slessor Avenue, Calabar, in the presence of 14 Chapter Chairmen and other stakeholders.
The oaths of Allegiance and Office were administered to the newly elected EXCO by Dr Ann Adi, a legal practitioner.
Addressing members of the party shortly after the inauguration, the State PDP Chairman, Venatius Ikem, promised to rejig the party while calling for unity among faithfuls.
“Four years ago, it took us one year plus of turbulence before we got to where we got.
“It’s our privilege for those of us who are coming back to look back and say, well, we are blessed to even have the opportunity to serve again.
“A lot of people have blamed us, like I said at the Congress. I believe in learning from the complaints, and the mistakes…With the new blood coming in, I hope that we’ll be able to rejig the party, rejig our focus.
“Most importantly, I believe there’s nothing like unity. If we have a united front, a united purpose, we will achieve great results.
“In accordance with our oath of office just taken, we will ensue some personal interests, some personal bickerings about personal interests, and focus very solidly on the core issues in front of us, the core challenges that we face, which is to see how we can harness all the potentials of the party, all the potentials that our members down there in the grassroots possess, and bring together,” Ikem said, while thanking the leaders of the party for their continuous support.
On his part, Comrade Odidi Emmanuel Achong, Chapter Chairman of Ogoja and Chairman of the Chapter Chairmen’s Forum in the state, lauded the process of the Congress, describing it as “remarkable.”
According to Odidi, a good turn deserves another, the reason why most of the EXCO members, including the State Chairman, were returned.
“This event started on the 27th of September, when the new EXCO members were re-elected under the leadership of Barrister Venatius Ikem.
“You will agree with me that there is an adage that says, One good turn deserves another. We saw the last EXCO, and they did wonderfully well. The leadership of the party were well consulted through the Chapter Chairmen of various local governments.
“We arrived at, since they were competent and they did very well, they should be reelected. We did so by bringing delegates across the 18 local governments of Cross River State, and the election was very peaceful.
“We found out that the members of the state EXCO were elected, and today we marked the 29th of September. Coincidentally, this was the very day the tenure of the last four years of administration was terminated.
“We don’t keep a vacuum in our office. We felt that they should be sworn in today. It was on that note that we did the swearing in today,” Odidi stated.
Converseer reports that the 39 newly sworn-in executive members were elected during the 2024 PDP State Congress on 27th September.
Below is the full list of the new Cross River State PDP EXCO:
1. Venatius A. Ikem – State Chairman
2. Polycarp Effom – Deputy Chairman
3. Joseph Obi Bisong – State Secretary
4. Augustine Edibe – Vice Chairman North
5. Ekawon Ekpong lre – Vice Chairman Central
6. Steven E. Asuquo – Vice Chairman South
7. Edadi Edadi Ekup – Financial Secretary
8. Takon Njang Egbe – State Treasurer
9. Ojisi Michael Ntui – Publicity Secretary
10. Kingsley Agabi – State Auditor
11. Ikpi Eyong Ubana – State Legal Adviser
12. Florence Inyang – State Women Leader
13. Boniface Odey – State Youth Leader
14. Ekeng Francis Ewa – State Organising Secretary
15. Joseph Esse Dukpara – Assistant Secretary North
16. Ovat David Egbe – Assistant Secretary Central
17. Rita Ekpenyong – Assistant Secretary South
18. Jumbo Anthony U – Assistant Organising Secretary North
19. Egbe Awo Egbe – Assistant Organising Secretary Central
20. Efiom Bartholomew Anjeh – Assistant Organising Secretary South
21. Ekunke Emmanuel Owan – Assistant State Treasurer North
22. Ofum Eno Ubi – Assistant State Treasurer Central
23. Duke Emmanuel Orok – Assistant State Treasurer South
24. Victor Effiong Ani – Assistant State Financial Secretary
25. Abu Mary Agbo – Assistant Women Leader North
26. Josephine Egbe – Assistant Women Leader Central
27. Offiong Onono Ani – Assistant Women Leader South
28. Jacob Agabi – Assistant Youth Leader North
29. Animi Ayamben Nyan – Assistant Youth Leader Central
30. Attoe Effiom Ernest – Assistant Youth Leader South
31. Eto Paul Agbo -Assistant Publicity Secretary
32. Tandu Manyo Ntui – Assistant State Auditor
33. Michael Imoh – Assistant Legal Adviser
34. Osang Esther Uregwe – State Ex Officio
35. Godwin Ushingo Ukukong – State Ex Officio
36. Eyime Peter Ekoro – State Ex Officio
37. Okoh Charles Ake – State Ex Officio
38. Nsa, Nsa Ita – State Ex Officio
39. Asuquo Etim Effiong – State Ex Officio
WATCH THE SWEARING-IN VIDEO BELOW
