The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southeast zone escalated on Wednesday as Chief Chidiebere Egwu declared himself the authentic Southeast National Vice Chairman of the party, rejecting Chief Ali Odefa’s claim and maintaining that Odefa has been expelled from the PDP.
In a statement obtained by The Guardian in Abakaliki, Egwu dismissed a recent stakeholders’ meeting held in Enugu, describing it as illegitimate and organised by the expelled former National Vice Chairman, Chief Ali Odefa.
Egwu highlighted that during a separate meeting in Abuja, zonal stakeholders reaffirmed their support for Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the party.
The Abuja meeting, according to Egwu, was attended by key PDP leaders in the Southeast, including former Abia State Governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, Senators Samuel Anyanwu, Michael Amah Nnachi, and Paulinus Igwe Nwagu, Hon. Jones Onyeriri, Zonal Legal Adviser, Barr. Ukpai Ukairo, Zonal Organising Secretary, Rt. Hon. Mike Ahumibe, and the PDP Chairmen of Imo and Abia states.
The communiqué issued after the meeting called on the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) to comply with the Supreme Court ruling that reaffirmed Senator Anyanwu’s position as National Secretary.
Egwu stated, “We are calling on the NWC and the general public to disregard the meeting held at the behest of Odefa.”
The stakeholders also urged for the immediate conduct of congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra States, which currently lack valid State Working Committees.
Recalling several court judgments affirming Ali Odefa’s suspension and expulsion as the PDP Southeast National Vice Chairman, Egwu urged the Zonal Working Committee to initiate ‘Contempt of Court’ proceedings against Odefa.
He further appealed to all PDP stakeholders and members to support the reconciliation committee led by Senator Bukola Saraki to mediate the ongoing crisis and leadership disputes for the survival of the party.
