Cross River PDP Erupts: New Guber Candidate Ignites Party Crisis
The Cross River State PDP is facing a new internal crisis with Julius Udayi Esq. claiming to be the authentic governorship candidate under the Tanimu Turaki-led NWC. This claim has been swiftly refuted by the Nyesom Wike-led faction, which asserts Sir Arthur Jarvis is the legitimate flag bearer, deepening the party's internal divisions.
A fresh internal crisis has embroiled the Cross River State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following the emergence of a new governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections. On Friday, Julius Udayi Esq. presented himself at the NUJ Secretariat in Calabar, asserting his legitimacy as the authentic flag bearer of the party.
Udayi stated that he is contesting under the leadership of the Tanimu Turaki, SAN-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP. Addressing journalists, he declared, "My name is Udayi Julius, the Gubernatorial Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Cross River State under the leadership of the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee." He was accompanied by other party candidates in the state, emphasizing that the press briefing was crucial to counter misleading claims by individuals falsely parading as PDP candidates.
He further elaborated, "This press briefing has become necessary in response to the misleading narrative being presented to the people of Cross River State by certain individuals who are falsely parading themselves as candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party." Udayi anchored his claim to legitimacy on recent court judgments, insisting that the Turaki-led NWC remains the legally recognized leadership of the party. He affirmed, "Following the judgments of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, it is our position that the Tanimu Turaki-led leadership remains the authentic and legally recognized leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party."
Udayi urged the public and relevant institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies, to disregard any other list of candidates, unequivocally stating that such claims do not represent the authentic leadership, structure, or duly recognized candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party. He called upon party faithful and all Cross Riverians to support the Turaki-led PDP for the "peace, progress and prosperity" of the state.
However, Udayi's claims were met with a swift reaction from the Nyesom Wike-led faction of the PDP. Ojisi, the State public secretary of this faction, dismissed Udayi's assertions, stating that he should not be taken seriously. Ojisi emphatically declared that the authentic flag bearer for the PDP governorship candidate in Cross River is Sir Arthur Jarvis and no one else. He questioned Udayi's legitimacy, remarking, "Udayi is fake why not he visit the party Secretariate to organize his briefing. We have not seen Udayi in PDP Secretariate in the last 8 months."