Ebonyi PDP leadership crisis ends as new exco emerges

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ebonyi State chapter has announced the end of its leadership crisis, which has lasted over two years, following the election of new working executives during the state congress held on Saturday at the party secretariat in Abakaliki.

The congress elected Mr. Peter Nwele, a party chieftain, as state chairman along with other executives in a peaceful election witnessed by party leaders, including former governor of the state, Sen. Sam Egwu, and the Southeast Vice President of the party, Chief Ali Odefa.

Following the election, the party vowed to remove President Bola Tinubu from office and take over all states currently ruled by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

Speaking to journalists after the election, the South East Chairman, Chief Ali Odefa, expressed confidence in the PDP’s preparations to reclaim power from the APC in the next general elections, adding that the leadership crisis in the state has now been resolved.

Odefa stated that under the leadership of its national chairman, Umar Damagum, the PDP has reconciled internal conflicts among party leaders and stakeholders, fostering unity among its members.

He advised the newly elected executives to focus on strengthening unity within the party to help regain national leadership, despite diverse interests.

He noted that some members defected to the APC due to hardship but assured them of an open-door policy for their return, predicting an impending fallout within the APC in the next two years.

According to him, any former PDP member who defected to the APC but maintains good character is welcome to return to the PDP before the 2027 elections.

He stated, “Nigerians are tired of APC, its policies, and governance style since it assumed power in the country.”

He said that everyone has felt the impact of the APC government’s policies and governance style.

“When the PDP was in power, everyone knew the cost of a bag of rice. Today, I was told that a bag of Abakaliki rice is now N73,000, which we previously bought for N22,000. Everyone is feeling the pain, and that’s why Nigerians are yearning for change, which the PDP is prepared to offer.

“Currently, we are organising internally to respond to Nigerians’ call for change. The PDP is a party with a human face.

“When Goodluck Jonathan was president, the likes of the current president, Bola Tinubu, and even former president Muhammadu Buhari protested and accused Jonathan of poor leadership. But now, if anyone tries such, they could be imprisoned.

“Tinubu will arrest you. Look at the innocent children recently paraded in court as protesters. Starving children were displayed simply for expressing their feelings, showing that the APC does not tolerate opposition. The current administration lacks compassion, and APC leaders disregard people’s welfare.

“However, just as birds learn to fly without perching, the hunter learns to shoot accurately. We are carefully preparing to challenge them, and when the time comes, we will dislodge them from power,” Odefa stated.

The newly elected chairman, Nwele, pledged to restore order in the party and set up a reconciliation committee to unite aggrieved members, adding that the leadership crisis appears to be over with his election at the state congress.

He promised an inclusive administration where all party members will be treated equally, urging them to join him in repositioning the party to reclaim power from the APC in the state.

Hon. Ugonna Ogbonna, chairman of the Ebonyi State PDP Congress Committee, described the congress as a peaceful exercise and commended members for their cooperation.

He confirmed that officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security personnel, and a seven-member committee from the PDP Secretariat in Abuja were on the ground to monitor the event.