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Why we accepted Udeh-Okoye as our new national secretary —PDP

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accepted Honourable Sunday Udeh-Okoye as its National Secretary, replacing Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who still lays claim to the position.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Debo Ologunagba, explained that the decision was compelled by clear affirmations in two court orders from both the High Court and the Federal Court of Appeal.

Addressing journalists at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja, Ologunagba also commented on the recent assault on The Sun newspaper correspondent, Mr. Ndubuisi Orji, by a PDP staff member, Mr. Emmanuel Okoronkwo.

He described the incident as unfortunate but emphasized that it does not reflect the party’s commitment to lawfulness and democratic principles.

“The PDP firmly believes in abiding by the law and upholding democratic tenets,” Ologunagba stated.

“There were two court orders and on December 24, 2023, after consultation with the PDP National Legal Adviser, it was confirmed that we have received the judgment on the appeal affirming Hon S. K. Udeh-Okoye, as the National Secretary of the party; we are a rule of law compliant party, we believe in this finality of the judicial process.

“We have always respected judicial pronouncement and we will always abide by that culture; the position of the party has not changed to that; in consistence with our position in the past as rule of law compliant party, we are obeying the order of court; we will follow the processes and ensure full compliance with the pronouncement of the Court of Appeal.

“We have received the judgment of the Court of Appeal that affirmed, Right Honorable S. K. E. Udeokoye, as National Secretary of PDP as as a party, we are bound by that judgment because it’s the judgment from the highest court to date,” the PDP national spokesman explained.

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Pointing out that ‘there is a criminal dimension’ to a PDP staff, Mr. Emmanuel Okoronkwo’s physical assault on The Sun newspaper’s reporter, Mr, Ndubuisi Orji who only came into Wadata Plaza to ask whether there was any party activity going on, Ologunagba described the action as unauthorized and inconsistent with the party’s values.

“We dissociate ourselves from this activity because he acted alone from our preliminary investigation; we are going to go through an established procedure within the system to understand, and we will come out with our findings.

“That said, Emmanuel Okoronkwo who is a staff of this party had no business at all with security apparatus of the party and the worst was his being here at that time, particularly since we were on vacation; he had no business being here.

“If he got instruction from anywhere, whoever he claims it to be, then he would take responsibility for those actions; we are saying that he acted alone but if he says he was acting on instruction, that would be his own issue to deal with; this party did not give (such) instruction to him, he had no business being here.

“If he was here and found to have committed a crime, then he should bear the consequences either personally or with whoever might have sent him, if indeed he was sent,” Ologunagba added.

“If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life, sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.”

• Photo: Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye, PDP National Secretary

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Anambra 2025: George Moghalu picks Nov 8 LP Governorship form

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Dr George Moghalu
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By Chuks Collins, Awka

The immediate past Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Dr George Moghalu, has picked the Labour Party’s nomination and expression of interest forms for the forthcoming Nov 8, 2025 governorship election in Anambra State.

The frontline aspirant reportedly procured both forms for N30 million at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

Addressing journalists shortly after receiving the forms, Dr Moghalu expressed high optimism that his chances to win the party’s primary and the November 8, 2025 election are very bright.

He said that he has all that it would take to dust the incumbent governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, in the election.

According to him, “For me, it is a privilege to run on the platform of LP because one may decide to run, but the party may refuse to accept you.

“It is not just about paying for the forms but also about being accepted by the people you want to represent.

“The assurance I want to give you today is that I will not betray your confidence and trust because I am a party man. I understand the dynamics, having served in a party Secretariat.

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“My loyalty to wherever I belong cannot be questioned. I have always remained in one party since the inception of this democratic dispensation.

“But had to leave for LP because, in every political consideration, two factors are always critical, -the party, and the person.

“Ambition is not war or a fight because, at the end of the day, one person will fly the party’s flag in Anambra State. It is my wish and firm belief in God that I will be that person.”

Earlier, while presenting the two forms, the party’s National Chairman -Barrister Julius Abure assured that his leadership would continue to guarantee a transparent, free, and fair primary.
He said, “I want to assure you that you have taken the right decision. The Anambra State primary will be free, fair, and credible.

“Our party members in Anambra will determine who becomes the governorship candidate.

“Abuja will not dictate who becomes the candidate. It is the people—LP members in Anambra State—who will decide. I want to urge you that while obtaining the form is a good step, you must return to engage with party members.

“We need to work to endear you to the party members, who ultimately have the power to nominate the governorship candidate. Without sounding immodest, I want to congratulate you and wish you the best of luck”, the chairman stated.

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Gov Mbah urges aggrieved PDP members to return to party

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Gov Mbah and the PDP delegation
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…describes Enugu as bastion of PDP

Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has called for peace and unity among the members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southeast Zone and the entire country, urging aggrieved members to seize the opportunity presented by the ongoing reconciliation process to come back to their fold.

The governor made the appeal when he received in audience, Thursday, the members of the PDP National Reconciliation Committee led by the former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who was at the Enugu Government House on a courtesy visit to the governor to brief him on the progressive efforts of the committee.

Mbah, who described Enugu as the bastion of PDP, carrying the party’s banner with pride, enjoined the committee to ensure genuine and lasting peace in their efforts to bring back aggrieved members into the party.

He insisted that the only way the party could win elections was through a united front built on true reconciliation and justice.

“There is no way we can afford to go into a battle with a divided house. So, we must, as a matter of utmost urgency, integrate and constitute ourselves as a whole, which is why the task you are carrying out on behalf of our party is very critical and sensitive and it is one that requires patience, tact and absolute wisdom,” he said.

Mbah further added that the party in the Southeast operated with some peculiarity of brotherhood whose differences could easily be resolved as siblings and members of one family, stressing that the party in the zone had done extensive work to ensure those who left the party were brought back.

“We also believe that the Southeast is a stronghold of the PDP and if we have people who are out now, it is not necessarily their desire to be out. So, what we need at this time is to bring back our aggrieved members to where they belong. And of course, the PDP is still largely the party with the spread that is required to win any election in this country and still appeals to the people of this country.

“I have no doubt in mind that those our brothers who are just waiting for moments like this will be brought back to where they belong and we can forge a strong alliance going into the next general elections,” the governor stressed.

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Speaking earlier, the PDP National Reconciliation Committee Chairman said that the disunity in the party was one of the reasons the party lost the 2023 presidential election and other election cycles in the country.

Oyinilola appealed to the grief-stricken members of the party in the Southeast to sheathe their swords and embrace the idea behind the peace and reconciliation process for the good of the party and the wellbeing of Nigerians.

According to him, Nigerians had become disenchanted and disillusioned under the national ruling APC caused by the party’s anti-people policies, saying PDP was the only party that could rescue the country.

Also speaking, the state party chairman, Dr Martin Chukwunwike, said the reconciliation move would rejig the party’s ongoing efforts in the state and bring back disgruntled members.

He expressed optimism in the leadership style of governor in the state, noting that the party was already witnessing mass return of members who left for other parties.

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PDP crisis worsens as party suspends BoT chairman, Adolphus Wabara

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Senator Adolphus Wabara
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The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Abia State chapter, has suspended the chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, BOT, Senator Adolphus Wabara, over alleged anti-party conducts.

The suspension was announced after a state executive council meeting in Umuahia. It noted that Wabara’s activities are unbecoming of a former senate president and chairman of the party’s BoT.

In a motion by the Treasurer of the party in the state, Chief Chizuru Kanu, and seconded by the Organizing Secretary, Prince Obinna Okey, the party stated that Wabara declared that the state governor, Dr. Alex Otti of the Labour Party, LP, has won a second term, just five months into his first tenure.

The party alleged that Wabara had refused to apologise over the anti-party conduct despite the time given him to do so.

State chairman of the Abia PDP, Elder Amah Abraham, disclosed that in line with disciplinary procedures of the party, a seven-man disciplinary committee would be set up to investigate Wabara’s alleged anti-party conducts.

The state chairman further stated that in compliance with the provisions of Articles 59(1) (e) & (f) of the party’s Constitution (2017 as amended), Wabara is barred from holding any party office and also removed from office as chairman of the party’s BoT.

The party said: “As officials of People’s Democratic Party (Abia State Chapter) and members of the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the Party, who jointly and severally swore to protect and defend the Party’s Constitution (2017 as amended), we invite the attention of PDP members, stakeholders to the anti-party activities of the BoT Chairman of PDP, Senator Adolphus Wabara, to the resolution of the State Working Committee/State Executive Committee, to invoke the relevant provisions of the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended) for the purposes of suspending from the party, Senator Adolphus Wabara, in line with the disciplinary procedures and guidelines and hereby unanimously resolved to State as follows:

His ‘crimes’

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“Our attention was drawn to a statement credited to Senator Adolphus Wabara, the BoT Chairman of PDP, in October 2023, and circulated on social media and national dailies, wherein the said Senator threw caution to the wind and in a brazen display of sabotage to the party, unilaterally endorsed the Labour Party governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, for a second term in office, barely five months after inauguration, and thereby brought the party to disrepute, hatred and/contempt, which is in violation to the provisions of Chapter 10, Article 58(c) and (f) of the Constitution of Party (2017 as amended) and therefore liable to punishment under Article 59(1) of the Party’s Constitution;

“Article 58(1) and Article 59(1) of the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended) empowers the State Executive Committee, SEC, to discipline any member of the Party, who commits any offence(s) provided by the Party’s constitution, irrespective of the members status;

“Article 24(1)(v) of the same Constitution confers membership of the State Executive Committee (SEC) on the said BoT Chairman, as a former principal officer of the National Assembly, the said Senator being a former Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which he became under the platform of the Party;

“The unappealed Federal High Court judgement sitting in Ebonyi State, in Suit No. FHC/A1/CS/182/2024 Hon. OVUTA HERBERT ONYEDIKACHI & 2 ORS AND Chief ALI ODEFA & 2 ORS delivered on 29/11/2024, had declared unconstitutional and a breach of the principles of natural justice, equity and good conscience, the purported provision of Articles 57(7) and 59(3) of the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended, which hitherto purportedly clothed the Senator with some molecule of immunity, from being sanctioned on disciplinary grounds by the State Executive Committee;

“The said Senator Adolphus Wabara has refused, failed and neglected to refute the said statement credited to him and circulated on social media and National dailies, since October 2023, despite repeated outcries, demands and notices to show cause why disciplinary sanctions should not be meted on him;

“The actions and inactions of Senator Adolphus Wabara have undermined the credibility of the PDP, demoralised party members /stakeholders and emboldened the opposition and gravely constitute gross anti party activity and conduct;

“The need to ensure discipline amongst party members across board, irrespective of status cannot be over emphasized;

“Consequent upon the far-reaching implications of Senator Adolphus Wabara’s acts of sabotage against the party, the SEC hereby invokes the provisions of Articles 57(1),(2),(3), 58(1)(b) & (f) and 59(1) of the party’s Constitution (2017 as amended) against Senator Adolphus Wabara and hereby places him on 1 suspension from party activities.

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‘Furthermore, in compliance with the provisions of Articles 59(1) (e) & (f) of the party’s Constitution (2017 as amended) Senator Adolphus Wabara is barred from holding any party office and therefore equally removed from office as BOT Chairman of PDP.”

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