••• Calls for postponement of NEC meeting to 13th March

••• Urges FG to revisit macroeconomic policies over hardship

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors Forum rose from its first 2025 monthly meeting held in Asaba, Delta State capital, on Friday, with a resolution backing the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which pronounced the former National Youth Leader of the party, Hon. S.K.E Udeh-Okoye, as the authentic National Secretary of the PDP and advised the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to implement the court decision accordingly.

The Forum equally advised the NWC to reschedule to 13th March 2025 the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the party earlier fixed for February.

This was even as the party rued the hardship in the land and called on the President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress, APC, Federal Government to revisit its macroeconomic policies to mitigate the sufferings of the Nigerian masses.

These were contained in a communique issued at the end of the meeting, which had in attendance the Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Diri Duoye of Bayelsa State, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Governor Muftwang of Plateau State, Governor Agbu kefas of Taraba State, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, and the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barr. Bayo Lawal.

The communique rendered by the Forum’s Chairman read, “The Forum employed the occasion to review the performance of member states in particular and the state of the nation in general, as well as developments in the party, as at the end of 2024.

“The Meeting noted that the macro-economic policies of the Federal Government had inflicted hardship and pain on the polity; therefore, the Forum calls on the Federal Government to either revisit or rejig its macro-economic policies to ameliorate and stop the hardship/pains that they have inflicted on Nigerians as no meaningful/impactful achievements in the states will be achieved until the harsh policies are addressed.

“The Forum noted with delight the ongoing efforts at resolving the crisis in the National Working Committee, NWC, on the position of the National Secretary, and has reaffirmed its support for the Court of Appeal judgment; consequently, the Forum advised the NWC to set up the machinery for the effective implementation of the court judgment.

“The Forum having examined all the notices required by law to be given to validly convoke NEC advised NWC to reschedule NEC to the thirteenth (13th) of March 2025.”

The Forum went further to express concerns over what it termed the resurgence of non-state actors and called for the strengthening of the nation’s security architecture.

It enjoined Nigerians not to despair over the hardship in the land, as it would soon return to power to fix the nation.

“While commending the country’s valiant and patriotic Armed Forces and security agencies for maintaining the frontline in securing the country and the gains of our gallant personnel against bandits in parts of the country, the Forum viewed with deep concern the resurgence of brazen non-state actors. It therefore calls for the strengthening of the nation’s security architecture.

“Finally, the Forum enjoined Nigerians not to despair in the face of the prevailing hardships with the firm assurance that the PDP will remain committed to returning our great nation to the glorious days of pre-2015 era of manageable costs of living, security of lives and property and greater unity and prosperity for all citizens,” the communique further read.

The Forum commended governors of member states “for pursuing policies and programmes that not only ameliorated the plight of the people but were also aimed at creating the foundation for sustainable development in their various states.

It lauded Governor Oborevwori for the giant strides recorded by his administration in the areas of infrastructure, environmental remediation, people empowerment and combating insecurity in Delta State. GMTNewsng

Edeoga May Return to PDP as Party Meets with Former LP Guber Candidate

● Ferdy Agu

The Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Labour Party, LP, governorship candidate in the 2023 general election, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, have reopened talks that could pave way for the return of the erstwhile party member to the PDP fold.

Edeoga, a former PDP Member of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003, had also served as Special Adviser (Legal) to former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, in the 6th Senate as well as Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters to former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan; and two-term Commissioner in the Administration of former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi between 2015 and 2022 all on the platform of the PDP before he pulled out of the party after the governorship primary to run on the platform of LP.

However, addressing reporters at a joint press briefing after a closed-door meeting with Edeoga at the former LP flag bearer’s Enugu residence, the Chairman of the Enugu State Chapter of the PDP, Dr. Martins Chukwunweike, told newsmen that the meeting was in line with his agenda to unite the party and bring back all former party members.

“PDP used to be the only party in Enugu State. But in the last election, something happened that things didn’t go the way it used to go. So, when I came on board, I discussed with the governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, that we must do everything possible to get all our people back in the fold. We must do everything possible to see that Enugu State becomes 100 per cent PDP the way it used to be. And we took the decision to consult with some of our very key people, who have been PDP all along.

“Chijioke Edeoga is one of them. When we discussed, he told me in plain language that he owes a lot to PDP and he had become a lot through the PDP. He has been in the State Executive Council of Enugu State under PDP and a lot more.

“We have had a lot of discussions before now and today I came to his house with the members of my executives – the Deputy Chairman, Secretary, and Publicity Secretary, and he is okay and satisfied with our visit. I believe, from what he told us, that we are going to have him back to the party. The only thing is that being somebody, who is not standing alone, who has people who are his team members, it is only right that he should also consult before coming to give us the expected verdict so that we will all go into the next election united as one family that we have always been. We know and we are confident that PDP under Dr. Peter Mbah will eventually become what it used to be as the only party in Enugu State.

“Importantly, he has asked us to tell the governor that he has seen all his good works; that even the blind man can see the good roads. So, our visit has been very successful and when next we will call you , it will be for him to tell you what I call the expected response.

Speaking also, Edeoga concurred with all that Dr. Chukwunweike had said, noting that he would consult his supporters in addition to the discussions with the PDP chieftains.

“Yes, the leadership of PDP in Enugu State came to see me, demanding I should come back to the PDP and I told them I will consult widely because I am a product of several men and women of goodwill. I have enormous respect for the team and the Chairman, but it is not in the nature of Igbo people to hear such a weighty thing and respond immediately. I am going to take it home and I will as early as possible get back to the Chairman and my position will be known. But it has been a wonderful meeting of brothers and former allies,” he stated. GMTNewsng

● Ferdy Agu

••• Says SE PDP united, warns external troublemakers

The South East Zone of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, rose from a meeting at the Government House, Enugu, with a resolution approving the zoning of national and zonal offices allocated to the zone.

The party in the zone also restated its support for Hon. S.K.E Udeh-Okoye as the National Secretary of the party.

It maintained that the party in the zone remained one, big, united party capable of handling any issues arising in the party in the zone, and warned external troublemakers to steer clear of the affairs of the party in the South East region.

These were made known in a communique read at the end of a meeting of the Zonal Executive Committee, ZEC, of the party at Government House, Enugu on Friday.

The communique was rendered by Chief Ali Odefa at the end of the meeting attended by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, who is also the leader of the party in the zone as well as former President of the Senate, Senator Adolphus Wabara; Senate Minority Whip, Senator Osita Ngwu and other members of the National Assembly; former governors, former ministers, among others.

“The South East Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) met at Government House, Enugu, on Friday, January 24, 2025. The meeting was well attended by our party leaders, including the Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah; Chairman, Board of Trustees, His Excellency, Senator Adolphus Wabara; the National Secretary of the Party, Hon. S.K.E Udeh Okoye, among others.

“Aware that time was when the PDP occupied all the five Government Houses in the South East region, the State Houses of Assembly, and an overwhelming majority of the region’s delegation to the National Assembly, the meeting deliberated extensively on the affairs of our party, particularly on how to restore the fortunes of the party in the South East region and the nation in general.

“The party also deliberated on internal crisis bedeviling the party at the national level and the attempts to encroach on the jurisdictions of the party in the South East.

“The meeting deliberated on the unfortunate, but contrived controversies surrounding the Office of the National Secretary of the PDP zoned to the South East region.

In line with the party’s principle of inclusivity, the ZEC meeting equally discussed the zoning of national and zonal offices of the party in the South East region.

“Consequently, the South East Zonal Executive of the PDP hereby resolves as follows:

“That South East PDP is one, big, and united family. We are capable of handling any issues arising inhouse;

“That South East PDP frowns at any attempt to fan embers of disaffection or precipitate crisis in the party in the region;

“That the party commends the Court of Appeal judgement upholding Hon. S.K.E Udeh-Okoye as the National Secretary of the party in line with the constitution of our party and the position of the South East ZEC of our party. We also remain consistent and united in this position that Hon. Udeh-Okoye remains the National Secretary of our party. We continue to trust the judiciary to continuously do justice on the matter;

“Finally, that the ZEC meeting hereby adopts the zoning of national and zonal offices of the party,” the communique read. GMTNewsng