Cross River NDC Stakeholders Pass Vote of No Confidence on State Chairman

The Cross River State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has passed a vote of no confidence on its State Chairman, in a development that has further deepened the internal crisis rocking the party in the state.

The decision, which was reportedly reached at a meeting of party stakeholders, was attributed to a number of grievances, including allegations of poor leadership, lack of transparency, and the manner in which key party decisions and candidate selections were handled.

According to party sources, the stakeholders accused the chairman of failing to carry members along on critical issues affecting the party, particularly in the build-up to the 2027 general elections, and of running the affairs of the party in a manner that excluded major political actors and grassroots stakeholders.

The aggrieved members declared that they had lost confidence in the leadership of the chairman and called on the national leadership of the party to take urgent steps to address the situation in the interest of the NDC's growth and prospects in the state.

They argued that the continued stay of the chairman in office would further weaken the party's structures, alienate key supporters, and damage its chances of mounting a credible challenge in the 2027 elections in Cross River State.

The stakeholders called for the immediate constitution of a caretaker committee to take over the affairs of the party in the state pending the conduct of fresh leadership elections in line with the party's constitution and guidelines.

They also urged the national working committee of the NDC to wade into the matter without delay, conduct an independent investigation into the issues raised, and take appropriate disciplinary action against any erring officials found culpable.

The development comes at a time when the NDC has been positioning itself as a major opposition platform ahead of the 2027 polls, with the party rallying notable politicians and grassroots support across the country.

The internal crisis in Cross River State, however, threatens to dampen the party's momentum and could affect its electoral fortunes if not promptly addressed by the national leadership.

The chairman of the party in the state is yet to formally respond to the vote of no confidence passed against him by the aggrieved stakeholders.

Political observers note that internal squabbles, particularly over leadership and candidate selection, have become a recurring challenge for many political parties in Nigeria, often leading to defections, splinter groups, and weakened electoral performance.

The NDC national leadership is expected to wade into the Cross River crisis in the coming days to broker peace and restore stability within the state chapter, ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested 2027 general election.