The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed claims of a state congress being conducted in Cross River, insisting that no such exercise has taken place.
At a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, stressed that the party had earlier postponed its planned congress in Cross River, alongside those of Plateau and Kebbi.
“For emphasis, there was no congress in Cross River by the PDP, as the leadership of the party had earlier announced the postponement of congress in Cross River, Plateau and Kebbi States,” Mr Ologunagba said.
He explained that the party had successfully conducted congresses in Lagos, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Adamawa, Borno, Niger and Kogi, while Ekiti State held its own on Monday. According to him, the National Working Committee (NWC) is expected to review the outcomes of the concluded congresses.
“In the case of Cross River and Plateau States where the tenure of the executives has expired, NWC will constitute a caretaker committee who shall run the affairs of the party for some time. Currently, for Cross River, the South-South zonal caretaker committee will be overseeing the affairs of the chapter as earlier directed by the NWC,” he stated.
Describing the purported Cross River congress as “a pre-Christmas carnival and hallucinations”, Mr Ologunagba stressed that the PDP remains a constitutionally guided party.
“There is a process you go through to have a congress; the NWC will constitute an electoral panel. We didn’t constitute that. So that’s why I say that it is a hallucination. It is an excitement, a carnival. So what happened, if it did happen, which I am not aware of and which the parties aren’t aware of too? It might be a pre-carnival for Christmas,” he said.
Turning to preparations for the party’s elective national convention scheduled for 15–16 November in Ibadan, Mr Ologunagba confirmed that the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms ended on 22 September. He noted that aspirants have been consulting stakeholders across the country.
“Consequent to the need to allow for more consultation and consensus building, the National Convention Organising Committee approved and announced the extension of the deadline for the submission of completed forms as well as the date for screening of aspirants. The extension is necessitated by the need to ensure all necessary arrangements for the smooth conduct of the exercise. As earlier announced, the new dates for the exercise will be communicated in due course,” he added.
On the 2026 governorship election in Ekiti, the spokesman confirmed that five aspirants — three men and two women purchased the party’s nomination forms.
Responding to speculation that former President Goodluck Jonathan may contest the 2027 presidential election on the PDP platform, Mr Ologunagba said he had not held discussions with either Mr Jonathan or Professor Jerry Gana, who made the comments.
According to him, “while Jonathan has not resigned his membership of the PDP, the party has eminently qualified Nigerians, including governors, who could run for the presidential election in 2027.”
