South East zone of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP , has re-nominated Udeh- Okoye ,Acting National Secretary of the party, to complete the tenure of the National Secretary, threatening mass defection , if their position is not respected.
The re-nomination took place at the Zonal Executive Committee meeting of the party held on Wednesday 14Th May, 2025 in Enugu .
In an opening remarks, the National Vice -Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Ali Odefa urged members to unite , prioritise party’s interest and look away from personal interests.
In his speech, the Governor of Enugu state, Dr. Peter Mbah called for continuous support of members, saying, “we cannot lead if we cannot get your support. it is priceless . I cannot equate it with any price . This is the time we need and ensure form a strong alliance and ensure we are speaking with one voice”
He went further to say, “.we do not allow any room for division.. We must come together and forge a strong alliance”
Governor Mbah expressed optimism that nominating an Acting National Secretary , as the PDP national secretariat had directed, will go a long way in restoring peace and unity in the PDP. ” Once that exercise is done our party will respect the decision of the South East” , Governor Mbah said.
Earlier, the chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, commended Enugu state Governor , Dr. Peter Mbah for his good works in the state .
He welcomed some party members who returned from the Labour Party to the PDP. Senator Wabara spoke on Igbo president, saying ,” Nigeria can never be a nation until an Igbo man becomes a President”.
Some of the Party leaders , Dame Rita Mbah ,Steve Orurua who spoke to newsmen, supported the re-nomination of the PDP ,South East zone
Pix:The PDP South East leaders
Rising from the meeting, the party presented a Four-point communique, read by the National Vice – Chairman, Dr. Ali Odefa. He announced that the Zonal Executive Committee, ZEC unanimously recommended Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the candidate to complete the term of office of the National Secretary.,
The Communique read in full:
South East Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, met at the Government House, Enugu, Enugu State, today, Wednesday, May 14, 2025 to deliberate on the issue of the Office of the National Secretary of the Party.
It is recalled that on March 21, 2025, the Supreme Court brought to a close the protracted legal tussle over the position of the National Secretary of the PDP. The apex court, in its ruling, held that the issue of the leadership of a political party was the internal affairs of such a party and that the courts and INEC had no jurisdiction and ought not to interfere.
Following the consideration of the report of the panel it set up to review the Supreme Court judgment, the PDP Governors’ Forum, at its April 14, 2025 meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State, recommended that the South East PDP should nominate a candidate, who would serve out the remaining tenure of the National Secretary of the Party zoned to the region.
In adopting the PDP Governors’ Forum’s recommendation, the NWC during its 600th Meeting held at the Party’s National Headquarters, Wadata Plaza, Wuse, Abuja, on April 29, 2025 directed the South East ZEC of our party to nominate a candidate for the Office of the National Secretary, accordingly.
Today’s meeting was therefore convened in accordance with this directive. Rising from the meeting, the ZEC resolved to issue the following communique:
1. The South East ZEC exhaustively deliberated on the directive of the NWC and came to the conclusion that it offered a sure pathway to peace, unity, stability, and progress of our party. Consequently, the ZEC unanimously recommended Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the candidate to complete the term of office of the National Secretary.
2. We also urge the NWC to uphold its decision at its 600th meeting on April 29, 2025, by ensuring that the Deputy National Secretary of the PDP functions as the Acting National Secretary pending the ratification of the nominee for the Office of the National Secretary by NEC in line with the recommendations of the PDP Governors’ Forum as adopted by the NWC.
3. The South East ZEC further noted that the zone has had to go through this process for the umpteenth time, unlike what obtains in the filling of vacant national offices by other zones. It is recalled that the South East ZEC met in October 2023 and nominated Rt. Hon. Udeh-Okoye to serve out the remaining term of the National Secretary. This position was reaffirmed during the February 20, 2024 meeting of the PDP South ZEC. We also reiterated this during the meeting of ZEC in Enugu on Friday, January 25, 2025.
The South East has consistently served as a stronghold of the PDP from inception. In its near three-decade existence, we have given our loyalty and all to the Party. Currently, while the Party has been losing key members post-2023 general election, the South East PDP is at the vanguard of strengthening the Party by rallying major opposition figures into the PDP fold. In Enugu State, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party is back in the PDP. Two Members of the House of Representatives are equally back in the PDP from Labour Party. Furthermore, PDP seats in the Enugu State House of Assembly have grown from 10 at the inception of the Assembly to 20 today.
4. Therefore, we hope that this time around, the position of the South East PDP regarding the Office of the National Secretary is accorded the honour and immediacy it deserves. This would bring to a closure the needless lingering dispute over the matter. However, in the event that our position is not promptly implemented by the Party, the South East PDP, as a family, will be compelled to reconsider our relationship with the PDP going forward.
Author -Maureen Ikpeama