South-east PDP re-elects ‘expelled’ Ali Odefa as national vice-chairman

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the south-east has re-elected Ali Odefa as its national vice-chairman.

Odefa was re-elected during the PDP’s zonal congress held on Wednesday at Michael Okpara Square in Enugu.

Party members also elected other executive members, including James Ugwu (zonal secretary), Regina Uchebo (zonal treasurer), and Cornelius Ugwu (zonal organising secretary).

Others are Madubuike Okoro (financial secretary), Chigozie Igwe (publicity secretary), Dominic Nwankwo (legal adviser), Ifeyinwa Arodiogbo (woman leader), Godswill Nwanoruo (zonal youth leader), and Augustine Ezeanya (zonal auditor).

Odefa was elected hours after a federal high court in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi state, affirmed his expulsion from the party.

In October 2024, the PDP executive committee in Oguduokwor ward, Onicha LGA of Ebonyi, suspended Odefa over alleged anti-party activities.

In November, a federal high court in Ebonyi upheld Odefa’s suspension as the national vice-chairman of the opposition party in the south-east.

In December, the ward executives expelled Odefa following the recommendation of a disciplinary committee that affirmed the allegations of anti-party activities against him.

On January 15, the PDP NWC rejected Odefa’s suspension and expulsion, describing it as “null and void”.

‘SOUTH-EAST REMAINS PDP BASTION’ 

Speaking during the congress, Peter Mbah, governor of Enugu, asked elected officials to be exemplary in leading the party in the zone.

“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 to from its inception,” he said.

“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 emphasise that enough. 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.”

Mbah advised party members to be united and shun divisive activities.