PDP reschedules Anambra congress over logistics

The National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rescheduled the State Congress of its Anambra State chapter.

The state congress, expected to elect a new set of executives at the state level of the party, was scheduled for the weekend.

Chairman of the Congress committee, the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Peter Mba, was, however, said to be out of the country on official duty.

This was announced through the Secretary of the Congress committee, Mr. Ndubisi Eneh, at the stakeholders’ meeting held at the Udoka Housing Estate office of the party in Awka.

Eneh expressed the regrets of the National leadership of the party, the Congress Committee, and the governor for the inevitable postponement.

He noted that the Enugu Deputy Governor, Ifeanyi Ossai, who was to stand in for Gov Mba, needed more time to get properly briefed and acquainted with the necessary paperwork and other relevant logistical arrangements.

He said, “The Congress, despite the shift, would take place before the coming weekend, between Tuesday and Thursday, in order not to distort other pre-scheduled programmes.

“This is to ensure we get it right via a credible and transparent process.

“Anambra is very important to us in the party. We all remember the role prominent sons and daughters of this state, including our own Dr. Alex Ekwueme of blessed memory, played in the formation and emergence of the PDP.

“We are aware that the PDP is the principal party in contemporary Nigeria; and fixing its Anambra chapter will see it take back all other states nationwide.”

He added that the shift would avail Mba the necessary opportunity to take, as he was expected back in the country tomorrow.

Eneh said that the prime importance the PDP Headquarters attached to taking back the Anambra Government House advised the shift. They want to put all square pegs in their proper positions and restore the confidence of members and supporters in the party and the way it carries on its affairs.

He vowed that members of the committee are committed to leaving a lasting legacy of a credible, fair, and transparent State Congress.

Eneh, who led other members of his committee to Awka, explained that the postponement will enable them to sort out some observed challenges, including the particular approved list of delegates and the actual certified number.

Addressing the stakeholders in turn, the state chairmanship candidates, Barrister Amechi Onowu and Chidi Chidebe, appealed to the Congress team for a level playing ground for all the contestants and to remain above board irrespective of any level of temptation. That is the only way the party could heal and rediscover its winning ways.

The former Minister of Women Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih, and the ex-Chairman of the party, Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu, charged the committee to remain focused on conducting a memorable free and fair State Congress that would stabilize the party for the Anambra State 2025 gubernatorial poll and beyond.

A member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BOT), Chief Ugochukwu Okeke, commended the party members for their patience, admitting that it really shows that the healing, restoration, and rebuilding process has started.

The BOT member pointed out that once the Congress is done and the new executive takes off, all other parties in the state would surely gasp for breath, “because the PDP is the big political landlord of the nation, Anambra inclusive.”