By Frank Ulom

CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – The Cross River State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reelected Barrister Venatius Ikem as the State Chairman for a second term, which will run till 2029.

Converseer reports that Ikem and 38 others were reelected and elected on Saturday, 27th September, during the 2025 PDP State Congress, which was held at Venetian Arena Calabar.

1,541 delegates were accredited for the Congress while 39 contestants stood for the election. The delegates were drawn from across the 18 local government areas of the state.

The Congress was overseen by a 7-member Electoral Panel, headed by the Chairman Rt. Hon. Jones Chukwudi Onyerem and Secretary T. J. Yusuf. Other members of the panel are Dr Nnamdi Onya, High Chief Kingsley Okafor, Barr. Clement Moa, Dr (Mrs) Linda Eze, and Mrs Blessing Oko.

PDP reelects Venatius Ikem as chairman in Cross River — Electoral Panel counting votes

Declaring the winners, Onyerem said, “With the kind permission of the members of the parliament and by the authority given to me by the National Working Committee (NWC), I hereby announce that these 39 state officers led by the Chairman are so elected and hereby returned.”

He also thanked the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (INEC REC) in the state, Dr Johnson Alalibo, for participating in the Congress, urging him to do the needful by communicating with the Commission.

Below is the full list of the newly elected executives:

1. Chairman – Venatius Ikem (1,501 votes)
2. Deputy Chairman – Polycarp Effiom (1,493 votes)
3. Vice Chairman (North) – Austin Edibe (1,460)
4. Vice Chairman (Central) – Ekawo Irek (1,500 votes)
5. Vice Chairman (South) – Stephen Asuquo (1,472 votes)
6. Secretary – Joseph Obi Bissong (1,450 votes)
7. Assistant Secretary (North) – Joseph Dubala (1,494 votes)
8. Assistant Secretary (Central) – David Ovat (1,492 votes)
9. Assistant Secretary (South) – Rita Ekpenyong (1,411 votes)
10. Financial Secretary – Edadi Edadi Ekup (1,452 votes)
11. Assistant Financial Secretary – Victor Effiong (1,487 votes)
12. Legal Adviser – Ikpi Eyong Ubana (1,415 votes)
13. Assistant Legal Adviser – Michael Imoh (1,401 votes)
14. Publicity Secretary – Michael Ojisi (1,461 votes)
15. Assistant Publicity Secretary – Paul Etim (1,494)
16. Auditor – Kingsley Agaji (1,467 votes)
17. Assistant Auditor – Michael Etoi (1,450 votes)
18. Women Leader – Florence Inyang (1,487 votes)
19. Assistant Women Leader (North) – Abu Mary (1,491 votes)
20. Assistant Women Leader (Central) – Josephine Egbe (1,411)
21. Assistant Women Leader (South) – Offiong O. Ani (1,407)
22. Treasurer – Njar Ekwe (1,492 votes)
23. Assistant Treasurer (North) – Ekong Emmanuel Owan (1,432)
24. Assistant Treasurer (Central) – Eno Ubi (1,427)
25. Assistant Treasurer (South) – Duke Emmanuel (1,398 votes)
26. Organising Secretary – Eteng Francis (1,499 votes)
27. Assistant Organising Secretary (North) – John Anthony U. (1,472 votes)
28. Assistant Organising Secretary (Central) – Egbe Ayuk Egbe (1,484 votes)
29. Assistant Organising Secretary (South) – Effiong Ani (1,448 votes)
30. Youth Leader – Boniface Odey (1,453 votes)
31. Assistant Youth Leader (North) – Jacob Agabi (1,479 votes)
32. Assistant Youth Leader (Central) – Iyambe Nya (1,483 votes)
33. Assistant Youth Leader (South) – Ernest Effiong (1,470 votes)
34. Ex officio – Godwin Ushingo (1,483 votes)
35. Ex officio – Esther Osang (1,479 votes)
36. Ex officio – Peter Eyibe (1,407 votes)
37. Ex officio – Nsa Nsa Itam (1,396 votes)
38. Ex officio – Charles Agim (1,390 votes)
39. Ex officio – Asuquo Etim Effiong (1,382 votes)

Speaking to journalists shortly after casting his vote, the leader of the party in the state, Senator Jarigbe Agom, currently representing the Northern Senatorial District in the Senate, described the process as being calm and organised.

According to him, the Congress is holding on NEC’s decision, and “I don’t think anyone can challenge it because it is legitimate, and in line with the provisions of our party.”

Also addressing journalists after the Congress, Senator Sandy Onor, 2023 Governorship Candidate, said the Congress had all the ingredients of success.

“We had a full house of delegates across the state. We had a proper panel duly certified and sent by the NWC, especially and most importantly, from the office of the National Organising Secretary, which is the office that is mandated to undertake this responsibility.

“Everything was done with a dosage of accountability and transparency, and we’re glad, we’re happy. You can see that the PDP still has a huge momentum in our state and the future is beautiful and bright.

“We have all the confidence that this Executive will do well. We’ll build together, support ourselves and the future is great,” Onor said, charging the incoming executives to carry everyone along.

On his part, the State PDP Chairman, Ikem, thanked the organising committee and INEC for a peaceful and more coordinated congress.

“On behalf of the newly elected executives, I want to thank you for this wonderful support that you’ve given us – the renewal of confidence in our ability to pilot the affairs of this party for the next four years.

“I know that it is not because we’re the best, and it’s not because we did excellently well, but by your mandate.

“If any of us said we’ve not erred in terms of our performance, that person is a liar. I believe that through various interactions, we’ve realised our shortcomings.

“We appreciate your support but going forward, I think it’s a lesson for us to see how we can correct our mistakes and hopefully, we’ll do better for the party,” Ikem said.

Also present at the Congress was Barr. Effiok Cobham, former Deputy Governor; Hon. Godwin Offiono, member representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency; Prof. Zana Akpagu, Chairman of Local Organising Committee (LOC) and former UNICAL VC; Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong; Rt. Hon. Etta Mbora, former member representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency; Godwin Ettah, former Commissioner for Education; Papa Dc Enamhe; among others.