Chief Chidiebere Egwu, the South-East National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has declared that the party currently has no recognized executives in Ebonyi State from the ward level up to the state level.
Speaking to journalists in Abakaliki, Egwu described the recent congress organized by a faction loyal to former South-East Vice Chairman, Ali Odefa, as “illegitimate and nullified.” The congress had declared Onyekachi Nwebonyi as state chairman, but Egwu dismissed the outcome.
“There is no valid executive of the PDP in Ebonyi State at any level — from ward to state — because no congresses have been conducted. The tenure of the last elected executive and that of the caretaker committee have both expired. Therefore, nobody can rightly claim to be an executive member of the party in the state,” Egwu stated.
He further revealed that arrangements are underway to organize new congresses that will involve all stakeholders across Ebonyi’s 171 wards. “We are making arrangements for a free, fair, and constitutionally guided congress. Once a date is fixed, it will be made public,” he added.
When asked about who currently directs party affairs in Ebonyi, Egwu clarified, “The Constitution empowers the National Vice Chairman to oversee party affairs in a state pending the conduct of congresses. Therefore, I am in charge, as stipulated in Article 27 of the PDP Constitution.”
Egwu faulted the congress that produced Nwebonyi, stressing it lacked recognition from the party’s national leadership and was not monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). “The congress that produced Nwebonyi was not organized in accordance with party guidelines. It was not sanctioned by the National Working Committee or monitored by INEC, and for that reason, it was quashed by a Federal High Court. Nwebonyi cannot parade himself as the PDP chairman in Ebonyi State,” he emphasized.
He warned against divisive actions within the party. “If I wanted to add salt to injury, I could have ordered his arrest. But I’m more interested in restoring peace and rebuilding the party.”
Egwu reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the PDP in Ebonyi and rebuilding member confidence. “We are reaching out to those who have lost hope in the party. The PDP remains the bedrock of Nigeria’s democracy, having produced about 90% of the country’s political leaders.”
He also expressed firm support for Senator Samuel Anyanwu, saying, “Even the crane of Julius Berger can’t remove him.”
Finally, he maintained that Dr. Ifeanyi Odii remains the undisputed leader of the PDP in the state. He noted that Ali Odefa, who conducted the controversial congress, was expelled by his ward, a decision later upheld by a Federal High Court.
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