Abakaliki, Nigeria – The National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the South-East, Chief Chidiebere Egwu, has declared that the Ebonyi State chapter of the party currently lacks valid executives at all levels.
Speaking to journalists in Abakaliki on Monday, Egwu dismissed the recent congress held by the faction loyal to former South-East PDP Vice Chairman, Ali Odefa, which produced Onyekachi Nwebonyi as state chairman. He described the exercise as illegitimate and nullified.
“There is no valid executive of the PDP in Ebonyi State at any level — from ward to state — because no congresses have been conducted,” Egwu said. “The tenure of the last elected executive and that of the caretaker committee have both expired. Therefore, nobody can rightly claim to be an executive member of the party in the state.”
Egwu added that plans are underway to hold fresh congresses across the state’s 171 wards, promising a transparent and constitutionally guided process. He assured that a date would soon be announced.
In the meantime, Egwu said he remains in charge of PDP affairs in Ebonyi, citing Article 27 of the party’s constitution. “The Constitution empowers the National Vice Chairman to oversee party affairs in a state pending the conduct of congresses,” he explained.
He dismissed the congress that installed Nwebonyi, saying it lacked the endorsement of the party’s National Working Committee and was not monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He also cited a Federal High Court ruling that nullified the outcome.
“That congress was neither sanctioned by the party nor supervised by INEC. It was a sham, and for that reason, it holds no legal ground,” Egwu stated.
He warned against moves to destabilize the party in the state. “If I wanted to add salt to injury, I could have ordered his arrest. But I’m more interested in restoring peace and rebuilding the party,” he said.
Egwu reiterated his support for Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary, saying, “Even the crane of Julius Berger can’t remove him.” He also reaffirmed Ifeanyi Odii as the undisputed leader of the PDP in Ebonyi.
Regarding Ali Odefa, Egwu said he had been expelled by his ward, with the action later upheld by a Federal High Court.
