● Ferdy Agu
… As Governor Mbah Charges Party Faithful on Good Governance
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southeast has elected a new zonal executive to pilot the affairs of the party in the region, with Chief Ali Odefa re-emerging as the Zonal Chairman.
The election, held during the PDP’s zonal congress at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, on Wednesday, also saw the emergence of Hon. James Ugwu as the Zonal Secretary, Mrs. Regina Uchebo as Zonal Treasurer, and Hon. Cornelius Okey Ugwu as Zonal Organising Secretary. Others elected into key positions include Madubuike Okoro as Financial Secretary, Engr. Chigozie Igwe as Publicity Secretary, Barr. Dominic Nwankwo as Legal Adviser, and Mrs. Ifeyinwa Arodiogbo as Woman Leader.
Additionally, Godswill Nwanoruo and Ezeanya Augustine were elected as the Zonal Youth Leader and Auditor, respectively. The congress also produced six National Ex-officio members and five Zonal Ex-officio members.
Mbah: Good Governance is PDP’s Priority
Addressing party faithful at the congress, Governor of Enugu State and Southeast PDP Leader, Dr. Peter Mbah, reminded members that elections should not be seen as personal triumphs but as a means to deliver good governance.
“Election is never an end in itself, and neither should the victory arising from it be construed as personal triumphs,” Mbah said.
The governor emphasized the need for the PDP to serve as a model for good governance, stressing that “democracy abhors excuses – no matter how plausible they sound.”
“We fully understand the demands and expectations of the people in a democratic setting. The bottom line is good governance. This is the ideal to which the PDP has committed from its inception.
L-R: Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu; Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai; Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah; newly reelected South East Zonal Chairman of PDP, Chief Ali Odefa; National Secretary of the PDP, Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye, and the BOT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, during the SE PDP Zonal Congress in Enugu, Wednesday.
“That is why, for us here in Enugu State, the people remain the centerpiece of government policies. The improvement of their welfare is not a task we regard with levity.
“It reflects in our determination to ensure that the provision of basic services can indeed be taken for granted by the people.
“Democracy is beyond the squabble for office and power. It is about the people. We cannot emphasize that enough,” Mbah declared.
He further urged party members to foster unity and work towards reinventing the PDP to restore its dominance in the Southeast region.
“The party’s greatness derives from its capacity to reinvent itself and retain its national appeal in the face of challenges. The South East has always been a bastion of the PDP. We must ensure that it remains so.”
Odefa Calls for Unity
In his acceptance speech on behalf of the newly elected 21-member Zonal Executive, Chief Ali Odefa called for unity, emphasizing that it is the only guarantee for PDP’s victory over the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which he accused of implementing bad policies that have caused hardship across the country. “Unity is the only guarantee for PDP’s victory over the ruling APC, whose bad policies have caused hardship across the country.”
Notable Attendees
The congress, observed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was attended by several prominent PDP leaders, including the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai; Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara; National Secretary, Hon. SKE Ude-Okoye; and Senators Sam Egwu, Osita Ngwu, and Augustine Akobundu.
Also present were the party’s National Auditor, Chief Dan Obi; federal and state lawmakers; council chairmen; state party executives; and other delegates from across the zone.
The successful conduct of the zonal congress reaffirms the PDP’s determination to strengthen its internal democracy and reposition itself for future electoral victories in the Southeast and beyond. GMTNewsng
