Cross River PDP open door for APC members ahead of 2027
- Cross River PDP governorship candidate Arthur Jarvis say di party go launch Rainbow Coalition.
- Di party don confirm Francis Bullem as substantive state chairman after Venatius Ikum resign.
- Bullem promise reconciliation and inclusiveness as PDP dey rebuild for 2027 elections.
Di Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Cross River State say dem dey open dia door for members of di ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as dem dey prepare for 2027 elections.
Di party governorship candidate, Arthur Jarvis, announce di plan on Friday at di swearing-in of di PDP new state chairman, Dr Francis Bullem. He say di party go soon launch wetin he call Rainbow Coalition.
"Di windows of defection dey open to our brothers for APC. Dat window of defection dey open to everybody," Jarvis talk, according to The Sun. He say a PDP government for 2027 go be "a party for Cross Riverians", not a closed club.
New chairman promise to heal wounds
Bullem emergence follow di resignation of former chairman Venatius Ikem, wey step down on October 16 citing internal divisions and leadership problems. Di party State Secretary, Joe Obi Bisong, talk say di State Working Committee adopt Bullem as replacement under Article 47 of di PDP constitution, with di new chairman from di same zone as him predecessor.
A communiqué wey State Publicity Secretary Mike Ojisi sign talk say di State Executive Committee formally accept Ikem resignation and ratify Bullem at a meeting on Thursday for dia secretariat for Calabar.
For him acceptance speech, Bullem offer olive branch to those wey back other candidates. "We be one party and there is room for everybody," he talk. He promise to lead with integrity and to rebuild di party ahead of 2027.
Di same communiqué endorse di Rainbow Coalition wey di Minister of di Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, dey promote, and recognise am as di party national leader, according to Naija News.
Warning against thuggery
Jarvis also raise concern about political violence for di state. He allege say some young people dey collect money to attack visitors, and talk say Cross River, wey people once know for peace, don turn "a theatre for thuggery".
Di party State Executive Committee talk say dem don notice repeated attacks on PDP members and opposition supporters during political activities, and call for environment wey no get intimidation.
Nobody don independently verify di allegations, and nobody don name or charge.
Wetin go happen next: Di PDP talk say dem go formally launch di Rainbow Coalition. As di 2027 governorship race dey approach, di party dey try to show say dem united and pull in supporters from di APC, wey dey control di state.
