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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Monday declared that no congress was held in Cross River State, insisting the exercise had been postponed by its National Working Committee (NWC).
It said those behind the purported gathering in Calabar risk sanctions for bringing the party into disrepute.
National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, who also serves as Secretary of the Media and Publicity Sub-Committee of the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC), told reporters in Abuja that no congress took place in Cross River, Plateau, or Kebbi, as the NWC had shifted the exercise after due consultations.
“For emphasis, there was none. There was no congress in Cross River State for the PDP, because it has been postponed, along with that of Plateau and Kebbi,” Ologunagba said.
He explained that congresses follow a defined process, including NWC and NEC approval of dates, notification of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with a 21-day notice, constitution of an electoral panel, and an appeal panel to address disputes.
“All these processes, particularly the setting up of an electoral panel, have not happened,” he stressed.
On whether the party would sanction organisers of the alleged congress in Calabar, Ologunagba said: “For anybody who has brought this party into disrepute, we know what to do. There’s a constitution. We all subscribed to be members and we swore to obey it.”
He warned against distractions ahead of the PDP’s national convention.
“This party is bigger than any individual or group of persons. People should be warned going forward,” he added.
Reacting to claims attributed to Professor Jerry Gana that former President Goodluck Jonathan might contest on the PDP platform in 2027, Ologunagba dismissed the speculation.
“I don’t speak for Professor Jerry Gana. People can express their opinion. But I will emphasise this: President Jonathan is a member of this party. We have eminently qualified Nigerians, particularly at the governors’ level, whose performance shows their capacity. That is the DNA of the PDP,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to judge the PDP by the performance of its governors compared with their counterparts in the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“This is the conversation we should be having for the Nigerian people to look at PDP and see the array of qualified people that are there,” he added.