South East PDP threatens mass exit over delay in ratifying Udeh-Okoye as National Secretary

The crisis within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened, as the South East caucus of the party has issued a strong warning of a potential mass defection if its nominee, Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye, is not immediately ratified as the party’s National Secretary.

During a high-stakes meeting of the South East Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) held at the Enugu Government House on Wednesday, PDP leaders in the region expressed deep frustration over what they describe as repeated disrespect toward the zone by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

Key Points from the Meeting:

• Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye was unanimously nominated again to complete the remainder of the tenure as National Secretary, a position zoned to the South East.

• The nomination was made in line with directives from the NWC’s 600th meeting in Abuja.

• The zone criticized the delays and repeated re-nomination processes, saying it has nominated Udeh-Okoye since October 2023 without implementation.

• The ZEC urged that Arch. Setonji Koshoedo continue in acting capacity only pending Udeh-Okoye’s formal ratification by the National Executive Committee (NEC).

Threat of Defection

In a sharply worded communiqué read by Chief Ali Odefa, the South East Zonal Chairman, the caucus warned that if the party fails to promptly honour their position, the region will reconsider its membership in the PDP.

“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… In the event that our position is not promptly implemented, the South East PDP will be compelled to reconsider our relationship with the PDP going forward,” Odefa warned.

Prominent Voices Speak Out

• Senator Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, voiced outrage at what he called persistent marginalization of the South East within the party:

  “We have been trampled upon, not taken seriously… If such a position were vacant in the South-South, it would not be like this.”

• Chief Achike Udenwa, former governor of Imo State, echoed the sentiment, calling for an end to the repeated sidelining of the zone:

  “We are expecting that this issue will be finally ironed out once and for all. We do not want to be taken for granted by anybody again.”

• Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, the region’s PDP leader, urged unity in the face of the crisis:

  “It is time for the zone to speak with one voice.”

Context: Loyalty Undervalued?

The South East caucus noted its historical loyalty to the PDP, having served as a consistent stronghold of the party since 1999. Despite internal fractures post-2023, the region has been actively rebuilding the party, citing recent defections of Labour Party lawmakers and stalwarts into the PDP in Enugu State.

Yet, leaders argue that the party’s failure to promptly ratify Udeh-Okoye is an affront to its strongest support base.