Cross River PDP faction says 'Rainbow Coalition' collapsing after Ikem's resignation
- A PDP faction in Cross River says the rival 'Rainbow Coalition' is collapsing after Venatius Ikem resigned.
- Factional governorship candidate Julius Udayi claims Ikem was backed by Wike's camp to deliver candidates.
- Udayi says his faction remains the authentic PDP and is awaiting a Court of Appeal ruling.
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State says the political coalition backing its rivals is collapsing, following the resignation of Venatius Ikem from the party.
Julius Udayi, who claims to be the party's governorship candidate in the state, spoke on Saturday in Calabar. He said Ikem's exit shows that the group he called the "Rainbow Coalition" is losing momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ikem, a lawyer, resigned from the PDP last week. Udayi's faction described him as chairman of a rival PDP group in the state.
What the factions are saying
Udayi alleged that Ikem had been assigned to coordinate the rival faction and promote its candidates in Cross River. He also claimed Ikem was "imposed by the Wike's faction as a factional chairman" to deliver certain candidates.
He said Ikem's resignation was not unconnected with a pending judgment of the Court of Appeal.
"The chaff will soon be separated from the weeds so we can focus and work towards winning the 2027 general elections in the state," Udayi said.
He insisted that he, along with Ebri Inah and other candidates nominated by the caretaker committee led by Senator Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), remain the authentic PDP flag bearers in Cross River.
Udayi thanked Ikem for what he called sportsmanship and repentance, and urged PDP members to stay calm, united and law-abiding while the legal process plays out.
He also said his administration, if elected, would focus on harnessing Cross River's human and natural resources to promote self-sufficiency and inclusive development.
Why it matters
The dispute matters to ordinary PDP members and voters in Cross River because it could decide who carries the party's ticket into the 2027 governorship race. A divided party can struggle to campaign, raise funds and hold ward structures together.
The sources did not say when the Court of Appeal is expected to rule, or whether the national PDP leadership has recognised either faction.
What happens next
All eyes are on the pending Court of Appeal judgment, which Udayi's faction hopes will confirm its candidates. Until then, both sides are likely to keep trading claims about who controls the party in the state.
