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Cross River PDP returns Venatius Ikem as Chairman, elects other Exco members
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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Cross River State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Barr. Venatius Ikem has been reelected for a second term of four.
Venatius Ikem was reelected alongside 38 other members of the State Executives of the party during the 2025 State Congress of the party, held on September 27, 2025, at the Venetian Arena along the Murtala Mohammed Highway, Calabar.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Cross River State, Dr Johnson Alalibo Sinikem, led the electoral commission to observe the State Congress alongside other statutory bodies like the Police, NSCDC and DSS.
In his address to delegates, Chairman of the Electoral Panel for the congress, Hon. Jones Chukwudi, acknowledged the presence of statutory institutions required under electoral guidelines which include, INEC, Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Department of State Services (DSS).
He said; “For every election, according to the electoral guidelines, there are statutory institutions that must be present. The first is INEC, and INEC is here. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) is here. Others here present are the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Department of State Services, and members of the Press, to monitor the processes and make sure that it’s in line with the electoral guidelines.”
He later declared Barr. Venatius Ikem re-elected as State Chairman with 1,541 votes, alongside 38 other members of the SEC.
In his acceptance speech, Barr. Ikem promised that the new executive would focus on rebuilding the party and strengthening its structures ahead of future elections.
“With all the experiences we have gathered and the humility conferred on us today, we pledge to do much better. Moving forward, we are going to challenge some of the issues that bedevilled our last expedition and begin the process of rebuilding in order to put our house together.”
Speaking to journalists after the congress, former governorship candidate of the party, Senator Prof. Sandy Ojang Onor, described the process as a model of transparency.
“All the necessary ingredients for the conduct of elections were present here today. We had a full house of delegates, a proper panel duly certified by the National Working Committee (NWC), statutory institutions in compliance with the electoral guidelines, and everything was done with accountability and transparency.”
He added that the turnout reflected the PDP’s strong presence in the state
“We are glad and happy. You can see that the PDP still has a huge momentum in our state, and the future is very beautiful and promising,” he said.
Also speaking, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, representing Cross River North Senatorial District, hailed the congress for adhering strictly to the rules, urging the re-elected leadership to prioritize reconciliation within the party.
His words; “I’m impressed that we followed all due processes in accordance with the electoral guidelines for the conduct of congresses. The way forward is for us to work together in order to achieve success in 2027; this would be made easier as soon as the Exco initiates proper reconciliation processes and works as a team.”
Apart from Senators Sandy Onor and Jarigbe Agom, other PDP leaders at the congress were former Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Barr. Efiok Cobham, former Governorship Aspirant, Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong, House of Representatives member representating Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, Barr. Godwin Offiono, former House of Representatives member representing Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency, Hon. Eta Mbora, former House of Reps Aspirant for Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency, Barr. Bassey O. Bassey, among others.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has slashed its fuel pump price for the second time within four days.
A market survey on Saturday by DAILY POST showed that NNPCL retail outlets around Airport Junction and Wuse Zone 6 (Berger) in Abuja have reduced their petrol price to N1210 per litre, down from N1260.
This means that the state-owned oil firm slashed the petrol price by N50 per litre.
This comes barely two days after Dangote Refinery reduced its petrol gantry price by N50 to N1,125 per litre.
Recall that four days ago, NNPCL had adjusted its fuel price pump by N75 per litre to N1260.
With the latest drop by NNPCL retail outlets, petrol prices stand between N1210 per litre and N1305 per litre in Abuja and its environs.
The reduction in domestic fuel comes amid falling crude oil prices, which stand at $69 per barrel and $71 per barrel for West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude, respectively, following the easing of the conflict in the Middle East.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu has kept mum amid the clamour by Nigerians for a commensurate drop in domestic fuel pump prices due to the significant reduction in crude oil prices.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it is yet to receive the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the Federal High Court judgment that set aside an earlier order directing it to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a political party.
INEC revealed this in a statement issued on Saturday by its Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola.
According to the commission, although it is aware of media reports on the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja on June 26, it cannot comment on the ruling until it obtains and reviews the certified copy.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is aware of reports circulating in the media regarding the judgment delivered on Friday, June 26, 2026, by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, which set aside an earlier order concerning the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
“However, as of this moment, the Commission has not yet received the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the court’s order,” the statement said.
INEC stated that its legal department would study the judgment upon receipt of the CTC before advising the commission on the next course of action.
“Once the Commission’s legal department receives and thoroughly studies the CTC of the judgment, INEC will take an informed, lawful decision in line with the court’s directives.
“Until then, we cannot comment on the specifics of the ruling, and the public is urged to await the Commission’s formal position on the matter,” Oketola added.
Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja had on Friday set aside the court’s December 10, 2025, judgment directing INEC to register the NDC as a political party.
The court held that the rights of the Peace Movement Party were affected by the earlier judgment because it was not joined in the suit despite claiming ownership of the logo relied upon in securing the registration order.
Justice Dashen consequently ordered that all parties be restored to the positions they occupied before the December 2025 judgment and directed that the substantive suit be heard afresh with all necessary parties joined.
The NDC has rejected the ruling and announced plans to appeal the decision. Its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, maintained that the party had not been deregistered and argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to revisit a matter on which it had already delivered a final judgment.
The ruling has also attracted reactions from opposition figures, including the NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the party’s National Leader, Senator Henry Dickson, and other stakeholders, who described the decision as a threat to Nigeria’s multiparty democracy and vowed to challenge it through all available legal channels.
INEC, however, maintained that it would reserve its position on the judgment until it receives and reviews the Certified True Copy.
A joint police operation rescued five victims abducted near Ogbere Forest in Ogun state on Wednesday.
They were rescued within 25 hours by the Lagos and Ogun Police Commands, which were part of a joint operation codenamed KOSAYE, meaning “No Space” in Yoruba.
The woman was among the victims who were shot in the incident. Her daughter and sister were among those rescued by the police on Thursday.
NNPC slashes petrol price twice within four days
Lokoja Court order: INEC speaks on NDC, says it’s yet to receive CTC
Just in: Police rescue five abductees in Ogun
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