South-East may dump PDP over national secretary position

The crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has worsened as the South East caucus threatened mass exit if its choice of  Sunday Udeh-Okoye as national secretary was not respected for the umpteenth time.

This comes as the Governor of Enugu State and leader of the party in the zone, Dr. Peter Mbah, rallied members of the party in the zone to speak with one voice.

Equally expressing disappointment at development in the party, Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and former governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa, described the refusal of the party in allowing the zone to complete its tenure as secretary as disturbing anddisrespectful.

The zone vented its displeasure in a communique read by the Zonal Chairman, Chief Ali Odefa, at the end of a meeting by the South East Zonal Executive (ZEC) at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday.

It said the meeting was convened to nominate a candidate to complete the remaining term of the position of national secretary in line with the directive of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, during its 600th meeting in Abuja.

Odefa said: “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 Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the candidate to complete the term of office of the National Secretary.”

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The South East PDP, however, regretted that it had to go through the process of nominating Udeh-Okoye several times since October 2023, and urged the NWC to not only immediately ratify his nomination, but also ensure that Setonji Koshoedo effectively occupies the Office of the National Secretary in acting capacity pending Udeh-Okoye’s ratification by the NEC.

The South East PDP, however, threatened to review its continued membership of the party should its position suffer further delay despite its agelong loyalty to the PDP.

“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.

Wabara, on his part, said it was in order to review the region’s relationship with the party should what he described as trampling of the zone by the party persist.

“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, Udenwa 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.”

South-East may dump PDP over national secretary position

Labour Party Chairman Abure vows to expose Obi, others

National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has fired back at critics within the party, including 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, over recent allegations of corruption and mismanagement.

Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja, Abure challenged his opponents to prove they gave him or the party any money during the 2023 elections. He denied ever receiving funds for personal use and warned that if provoked further, he would reveal damaging details about them.

“I want to challenge all of them. I saw some of them on television talking about corruption. Let any of them from Peter Obi down come forward and publicly declare what they personally gave to me or the party,” he said.

“Who brought the money? Who was it given to? Where was it sent? I challenge them today to come out boldly with or without evidence and say it. Otherwise, let them forever remain silent.”

Abure said he had kept silent until now in the interest of peace within the party. But he declared that the time for silence was over.

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“As a leader, I kept quiet thinking they were making mistakes and would eventually come around.

“When issues about election agents and funds came up, I said nothing because I believed I should accept the good, the bad, and the ugly within our fold.

“But now that some have crossed the line, I have no choice. If they provoke me further, I will reveal everything. When I open my mouth, they will stink like rotten eggs no one wants to touch.”

He also announced plans to hold a world press conference to address the growing internal crisis in the party.

Turning to Governor Alex Otti, Abure accused him of not contributing financially to the party during the elections.

“That governor who is jumping like a cricket from one point to another, we did not collect a dime from him. If he gave money to anyone, let him come forward and say so,” he said.

“When we met at Transcorp, he asked me, ‘Chairman, what do I do for you?’ I told him, ‘Nothing. Use your money for your campaign.’”

Labour Party Chairman Abure vows to expose Obi, others

Nigerians will decide 2027, Patience Jonathan told

A social reform group known as The Crusader has criticized former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan over her recent comments concerning the 2027 presidential elections, asserting that her time in office diminished the stature of the First Lady position.