From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has threatened to quit the party if Hon Udeh-Okoye is not returned to his position as the National Secretary of the party.
Governor Peter Mbah, who is currently the leader of the party in the South East zone with other stakeholders among whom were Senator Adolphus Wabara, ex- Governor Achike Udenwa took this decision in their meeting held at Enugu state government house yesterday
They sounded the warning over the continous rejection of Hon.Udeh Okoye to be returned as National Secretary of the party by certain forces within the party, against the Supreme court judgement which was further ratified by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP
The Enugu state Governor Dr. Peter Mbah,who is the leader of the party in the South East zone said it is time for the zone to speak with one voice.
The Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and former governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa, expressed fury over what they described as the party’s disrespect and trampling of the region.
Senator Wabara said it will be in order to review the region’s relationship with the party should what he described as trampling of the zone by the party persists.
“We have been trampled upon, not taken seriously. If such a position were vacant in the South-South, it would not be like this. And now, it came to us. I mean, the usual thing is to play politics with the Igbo man. Yes, we may have to reconsider our stand as far as the party is concerned. But I trust the NWC,” he stated.
Udenwa, on his part said, “We are expecting that this issue will be finally ironed out once and for all. We do not want to be taken for granted by anybody again.”
The communique read by the South East zonal Chairman of PDP, Chief Ali Odefa states,
“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.”
The South East PDP, however regretted that it had to go through the process of nominating Udeh-Okoye severally since October 2023, and urged the NWC to not only immediately ratify his nomination, but also ensure that Arch. Setonji Koshoedo effectively occupies the Office of the National Secretary in acting capacity pending Udeh-Okoye’s ratification by the NEC.
“The South East has consistently served as a stronghold of the PDP from inception. In PDP’s 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 elections, the South East PDP is at the vanguard of strengthening the Party by rallying major opposition figures such as in Enugu where the Labour Party, LP, gubernatorial candidate, two LP House of Representatives Members, numerous members of the House of Assembly, among other stalwarts into the PDP fold.
“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 to 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,” the communique concluded.
End.
Good morning sir.
NB. I re worked on this very important press release from government house.
