Enugu PDP begs LP guber candidate, Edeoga, to return

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State on Friday moved to swell its ranks ahead of the 2027 general elections with a plea to the 2023 Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Chijioke Edeoga, to return to the ruling party in the state.

The party also urged Edeoga to return home and use his political force and goodwill to work for the progress of the party and the people of the state.

State Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Martin Chukwunweike, who led other executive members of the party to Edeoga’s residence in Enugu, noted that the party, and by extension his leadership, was incomplete “without the likes of Edeoga.”

Chukwunweike, who addressed newsmen after the meeting, said, “We’re at the residence of His Excellency, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga. Ever since I assumed office as the state chairman of the PDP in Enugu State, we, as the executive, have been thinking of how to make the PDP formidable once again.

“PDP used to be the only party in Enugu State. But in the last election, something happened, and things didn’t go the way they used to go.

“When I came on board, I discussed with the governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, that we must do everything possible to get all our people back on track. We must do everything possible to see that Enugu State becomes 100 percent PDP once again, the way it used to be.

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“We took the decision to consult with some of our very key people who have been PDP all along. Number one on the list is the person whose residence we are in, Chijioke Edeoga.

“Edeoga has gone to the House of Representatives under PDP. During our discussion, he told me plainly that he owes a lot to PDP. He’s become a lot because of PDP. He’s been in the state executive council of Enugu State courtesy of the PDP and a lot of other things.

“So, it was painful for me to come and be acting as the PDP chairman without someone like him being in PDP.

“The governor approved that I should go and talk to him and beg him to come back to PDP because he (the governor) knows that he (Edeoga) is a force to reckon with in Enugu State politics.

“We’ve had a lot of discussions before now. Today, we—myself and key members of the executive of the PDP in Enugu State—have come to consult with him, and he’s okay with our visit. He’s very satisfied with our visit.

“I believe, from what he told us, that we are going to have him back in the party. The only thing is that, being somebody who is not standing alone, who has people who are his team members and companions, he feels that it is right that he also consults with them before coming to give us the expected verdict.

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“It might not cost him anything (to make his stand known), but it doesn’t augur well for his personality to just tell us, ‘let’s go back to PDP.’ But, naturally, as a man of honour and integrity, and as a general who controls people, he needs to consult with his people to give us his final expected verdict, which I believe will not take long. So, as the battle is beginning to prepare now, we will all go into the battlefield united as one family, which we have always been.

“We know that Enugu State under Dr. Peter Mbah will eventually become what PDP used to be. He’s asked us to extend his greetings to the governor. He’s asked us to tell the governor that he has seen the good works.

“We’re happy that this visit has been very successful. I believe that the next time we call you, it will be for him to now tell you the expected response,” Chukwunweike said.

Edeoga, in his response, thanked the leadership of the PDP Enugu State for reaching out to him and promised to give them a response anytime soon.

He said: “You heard the Chairman. They want me to come back to PDP, and I told them that I would consult widely because I’m a product of several men and women of goodwill. I will have to take back the message from the chairman and his team, whom I have enormous respect for. It is un-Igbo to hear such a request and respond immediately. I’m going to take it home and, as early as possible, get back to the chairman.”