The South East Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP has urged the National Working Committee (NWC), to uphold its decision at its 600th meeting on April 29, 2025, by ensuring that the Deputy National Secretary of the PDP functions as the Acting National Secretary pending the ratification of the nominee for the Office of the National Secretary by NEC in line with the recommendations of the PDP Governors’ Forum as adopted by the NWC.
The South East ZEC further noted that the zone has had to go through this process for the umpteenth time, unlike what obtains in the filling of vacant national offices by other zones.
In a communique issued and signed by the Chairman South East Zonal Executive, Ali Odefa, at the end of its meeting held at the Government House, Lion Building, Enugu on Wednesday, the 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 the party.
“Consequently, ZEC unanimously recommended Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the candidate to complete the term of office of the National Secretary”. The statement said.
You will recall that the South East ZEC met in October 2023 and nominated Rt. Hon. Udeh-Okoye to serve out the remaining term of the National Secretary.
This position was reaffirmed during the February 20, 2024 meeting of the PDP South ZEC.
“We also reiterated this during the meeting of ZEC in Enugu on Friday, January 25, 2025.
“The South East has consistently served as a stronghold of the PDP from inception. In its 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 election, the South East PDP is at the vanguard of strengthening the Party by rallying major opposition figures into the PDP fold.
“In Enugu State, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party is back in the PDP. Two Members of the House of Representatives are equally back in the PDP from the Labour Party. Furthermore, PDP seats in the Enugu State House of Assembly have grown from 10 at the inception of the Assembly to 20 today.
“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 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 statement said.
