•Court affirms Egwu as South East zonal chairman

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja and Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki

The  Peoples Democratic Party( PDP) National Working Committee ( NWC) has postponed the zonal congress in the North Central, South South and South West geopolitical zones, earlier scheduled for April 12.

The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, yesterday, said the postponement is in solidarity with the government and people of Plateau over the recent killings in the state.

The opposition party said the postponement of the zonal congresses is also to enable governors in the affected zone to attend a meeting of  the PDP Governor’s Forum  scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State  April 13 and 14.

It noted that “consequently, the NWC has approved the rescheduling of the South West Zonal Congress to Wednesday, April 16, 2025, while a new date for the North Central and South South Zonal Congress will be communicated by the Party in due course.

“To this effect, the NWC charges the Chief Emmanuel Ogidi-led South South Zonal Caretaker Committee to continue to oversee the activities of the Party in the Zone in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) until a new South South Zonal Executive is elected.

“The NWC urges all leaders, critical stakeholders, teeming members of the PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the media, security agencies and the general public to note the postponement and be guided accordingly.”

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, has affirmed  Chidiebere Egwu as the  National Vice Chairman of the PDP, South East zone.

Egwu was nominated  by the Southeast stakeholders of the party  as replacement for Chief Ali Odefa who was expelled from the party for alleged anti-party activities.

Delivering judgement  in suit No: FHC/AI/CS/229/2024 filed by Egwu (plaintiff) Vs Umar M. Bature (National Organising Secretary, PDP), Chief Ali Odefa, the Peoples Democratic Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) (defendants), Justice Hilary Oshomah held that  by the by the combined provisions of Article 45, 47(6), 58 and 59 of the PDP Constitution (as  amended,  2017) as well as the subsisting judgement of the Federal High Court  in Suit No: FHC/Ai/CS/182/2024 which affirmed the suspension of the 1st Defendant (Chief Ali Odefa) from the PDP and  subsequent expulsion from the party by the Executive Committee of the PDP in  Oguduokwor Ward, Onicha Local Government Area of the state,   the office of the  National Vice Chairman Southeast  was vacant before the nomination of the Plaintiff  to replace the 1st Defendant and complete the unexpired tenure of the 1st Defendant as the National Vice Chairman of the PDP Southeast  Zone.

The Court also ordered the 2nd Defendant (PDP), and 3rd Defendant (INEC) to recognise Egwu to carry out his duties as the substantive National Vice Chairman of the PDP, Southeast zone.

It restrained Odefa from parading himself as National Vice Chairman of the party, South East.