With the recently concluded Southeast zonal congress of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that returned its serving executives, all eyes are now on the party to work towards restoring it and overturning the run of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the region ahead of the 2027 general elections, LAWRENCE NJOKU reports.
Those who watched the zonal congress of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southeast region that returned the Ali Odefa-led executive two weeks ago would readily affirm that the allure, which the party was known for, is fast disappearing. This also puts doubt on the party’s readiness to overturn the run of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the region ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Time was when the PDP reigned. When it was in control of the five states of the southeast region or dominated the politics of the zone. Its zonal congresses in Enugu were seen as a carnival and a beauty to behold. With party delegates and supporters of the various political heavyweights trooping into Enugu, hotels were fully booked.
The premises of Michael Okpara Square, which served as the venue of the exercise, were usually electrifying, with several supporters trying to outdo others with campaign posters, billboards and dances in praise of the various politicians that paid their movement to the arena and those contesting offices allocated to the various states.
Offices were hotly contested with the horse trading that went into it, it was during such congresses in the past that supporters of then Governor of Anambra State, Chris Ngige and self-styled godfather, Chief Chris Ubah, engaged in free for all over who should occupy the positions allocated to the state.
Ali Odefa, current zonal chairman of the party, also tasted the bitter part of now Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, during one of such congresses for attempting to contest against Austin Umahi, the Minister’s younger brother, during the exercise.
Dave, then the governor of Ebonyi State, had allowed his boys to give him (Odefa) the beating of his life before throwing him out of the congress venue for the process to continue.
These contentions, among others, have negatively impacted the PDP’s run in the region to the extent that it has continued to lose steam with every election held in the area. From the control of five states, PDP can now boast of only one state, Enugu and two senators, even as internal wrangling has hindered its smooth runs.
The recent zonal congress in Enugu typifies the story of an opposition party in dire need. The allure was gone. All that made the party tick was no more. Unlike in the past, you could barely count the number of people who attended the exercise when no space was left unoccupied.
This loss of interest in the party probably led to the return of the Odefa-led executive without bickering from any quarters. Delegates were not meant to contest the offices available but were to vote to return those serving.
At the congress in Enugu, Governor Peter Mbah spoke elaborately about the move to reposition the party and restore it to its prime position in the southeast. He stressed that the peaceful disposition that pervaded the congress indicated the willingness of the members to work for a new PDP that could satisfy the yearnings of Nigerians.
“The sea of heads in this arena this afternoon fills me with pride. It is a potent reminder that democracy is a participatory endeavour, and our party, PDP, is always committed to that ideal. We thank everyone gathered here for coming out en masse to further give meaning to our dear party’s conviction that democracy is the power of the people in action.
“Your resilience is impressive. It reflects your steadfast belief in our great party, PDP. We fully understand the demands and expectations of the people in a democratic setting. The bottom line is good governance. Our great party, PDP, has committed itself to this ideal right from inception. Democracy is beyond the squabble for office and power. It is about the people. We cannot emphasise that enough.
“The South-East has always been a bastion of PDP. We carry the banner of PDP with immense pride and honour. We must ensure that that remains so. This should be uppermost in our minds. We strongly affirm that unity is strength; that the best we crave for our party can only be attained if we remain united”.
But while the congress delegates departed the venue, questions arose about the readiness of the PDP to reclaim the region, which was due to the exercise’s fallouts and the discontent among its members in the zone.
Agitating minds wanted to know how an executive that started with three states several years ago was now the best for the party in the face of the dwindling fortunes that have reduced its spread in the region to one state (Enugu State). Yet, others queried the party’s seriousness in posing a stiff opposition against the strong inroads by the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections in the region with the calibre of its zonal leadership.
It was gathered that Odefa, who emerged as the Zonal Chairman of the party had been embroiled in misunderstanding with party members at his Oguduokwor Ward in Onicha Local government area of Ebonyi State with the members allegedly pronouncing his expulsion from the party last year. It was learnt that a federal high court in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, upheld the expulsion last month. Those who wanted him out of the party did not participate in the zonal congress that threw him up for a second term.
While Odefa battled with his burden, members of the party in Abia State rose last month to announce the expulsion of Senator Adolphus Wabara, the Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairman. They accused him of being anti-party, explaining that efforts to get him to answer the offence proved abortive.
The State Working Committee (SWC) led by Chairman Abraham Amah had accused the former Senate President of endorsing Governor Alex Otti for a second term in October 2023, barely five months into his administration.
Although the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party had later faulted the expulsion as “unconstitutional, null and void”, Wabara has also continued to sustain his office by the grace of the Court, which barred the party from further actions against him.
The party has remained the most hit in the defection saga, trailing the polity ahead of 2027 politics. Its members have continued to troop to the APC and Labour Party to seek better political opportunities in the region’s five states. Those who have defected have always blamed the development on the leadership crisis in the party.
The near ugly state of the party manifested in the November governorship election of Anambra State, as aspirants in the process have shunned the expression of interest and nomination forms of the party.
The PDP had pegged the sale of the forms at N40 million with a deadline of March 7 for its submission, while the governorship primary is scheduled for April 5 in the state. This is not working out as no aspirant has purchased the form, pushing the party leadership back to the drawing board to review the process or miss having its name on the ballot.
It does not appear that the name of the party and its goodwill over the years are enough to restore it in the southeast region, amidst deep rumours that its only governor and other top politicians in the area remain the lackey of the APC and may be working to actualise the second term ambition of President Bola Tinubu.
With appointments and other political strategies, the APC has continued to deepen its acceptability in the region.
But Chief Peter Nwele, chairman of the PDP in Ebonyi State, stated that the lushness of the party has not diminished in the region, stressing that what was needed was a unity of purpose to rebirth the party with the manifest failures of the APC in governance.
He expressed implicit confidence in the administration of Odefa to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 elections, stressing that defections were part of the politics of no ideology being played in the country.
Citing the party’s situation in Ebonyi State, he said: “The PDP in Ebonyi State is faced with an enormous task, but we will defile all distractions and contribute meaningfully to its growth and sustainability”.
A Chieftain of the party, Daniel Ogbonna, told The Guardian that the party would overcome its present challenge with a focused leadership, stressing that the “APC remains a special purpose vehicle for the people of the region.”
“The APC is not the party for the southeast despite its political forays so far. This is because the party has not been able to lay a solid foundation for sustainability and growth. In about two months, it would have been 10 years of the APC regime. We are yet to feel the party in concrete terms in the zone. The infrastructure is still being awaited. We know how it has been in terms of appointments. The only difference between the administration and Buhari is that we now have representation among the Service Chiefs. But in other areas, we are still being treated like a dot in a cycle,” he stated
State Chairman of the party in Enugu State, Dr Martin Chukwunwike, expressed similar sentiment when he hinted that there was no going back in the efforts to reposition the party for greater electoral victories.
He stated that the move embarked upon by his executive to woo its former members back to the fold was to restore the vibes and winning spirit of the party, adding that the inability to manage its victories effectively was responsible for its present predicament.
“But we are optimistic that we will come out of it stronger and better. The target is to have a stronger PDP for 2027, and we are already working towards the expansion of the party,” he said.
