Wike present as south-south PDP re-elects Orbih as zonal chair | NWC disowns congress

The south-south zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has re-elected Dan Orbih, an ally of Nyesom Wike, as its chairman.

Orbih was re-elected on Saturday at the south-south zonal congress held in Calabar, the Cross River state capital.

Members of the party also elected other officials including Alabah Turnah, (secretary), Evelyn Weke (treasurer), Ijeoma Obani (financial secretary) and Timothy Okwoche (organising secretary).

Others are Iyrneri Briggs (legal adviser), Prince Isong (publicity secretary), Loveday Abaribote (auditor), Phenomena Esubok (woman leader), and Patrick Asuquo (youth leader).

Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), and Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River, attended the congress.

On Thursday, Debo Ologunagba, PDP spokesperson, announced the postponement of the congress, saying a new date would be fixed.

Speaking after the election, Orbih promised to work for the party’s interest.

“We will continue to do what is right for the interest and development of our party in the south-south and Nigeria,” he said.

“This is a very critical moment in the history of our party and we are going to do all we can to end the era of impunity and imposition.

“We will also start the process of rebuilding and rebranding our party. The expectations are high but we will not disappoint the party.”

Also speaking, Wike said south-south is a stronghold of the party and would remain so.

“The south-south zone is the strongest zone of the PDP in Nigeria. It has always been and will always be. There is no part of the constitution that says congress should be postponed because of a wedding or travelling,” Wike said.

“There has never been a congress where every delegate was present. The constitution did not say the national working committee should conduct a congress but the zone.

“I want to assure you that this is the final zonal congress of the south-south zone, after the election today, no other zonal congress will be held.

“This is our job, our terrain, and we are not new to this.

“Nobody can intimidate me and I don’t need to be a governor. Let us put ourselves together in truth and ensure our party remains united and we can only be united when we are truthful.

“Let us also shine our eyes and elect leaders that will unite and protect our party.”

‘NO CONGRESS CONDUCTED’

In a statement issued on Saturday night, Ologunagba disowned the congress, saying the NWC was not involved in the exercise.

“To the contrary, the PDP states in clear terms that it has not conducted its south-south zonal congress neither is it in any way involved in the said gathering in Calabar,” the statement reads.

“For emphasis, therefore, the PDP states that it has not conducted its south-south zonal congress and it has yet to communicate a date for the exercise.”

Ologunagba asked party members, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and security agencies “to disregard any gathering or outcome of any such gathering” which produced new executives for the party in the south-south.

The PDP publicity secretary added that the party will announce a new date for the conduct of the south-south zonal congress.