The South-East zonal caucus of the People Democratic Party, PDP, is the worst hit as the National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the party on Monday backed Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary.
Prior to yesterday’s meeting, the South-East leaders in the party, including Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Senator Adolphus Wabara, the Board of Trustees, BoT, Chairman, among others were present at the Enugu meeting where they threatened to to pull of the party if SKE Ude-Okoye was not made the party’s National Secretary.
Just on Sunday, Governor Peter Mbah met with his counterpart from Oyo State, as well as Wabara, where he re-echoed the zone’s position.
“For the record, just as I stated during my interactive session with Fellows and Members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Enugu at the weekend, while I am still a member of the PDP, the South East – and that includes me – reserves the right to review our continued membership of the party if the party is unwilling to put its house in order.
“That was invariably the position adopted during our last South East Zonal meeting held here in Enugu. During that meeting, the caucus noted that the party should not disregard the zone’s stand regarding the National Secretary position.
“To all intents and purposes, this has obviously not been the case. So, there is no doubt as to where I stand on the matter.
“The position of the South East with respect to the National Secretaryship of the party as issued in that communique is sacrosanct,” he stated.
However, 24 hours later, the NEC threw its weight behind Anyanwu, finally dumping Ude-Okoye.
A member of the PDP in Enugu State, who preferred anonymity, said the decision of the NEC was an affront on the PDP in the South-East zone.
“What they just demonstrated is that they don’t regard the South-East as anything.
“If it were any other zone that made that demand, they would not be treated with such ridicule and neglect.
“Of course, they know that the threat of mass defection will not be carried out; it is rather unfortunate. I would like to use the word- stranded. The South-East PDP leaders are now stranded,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, a pressure group, Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has described the South East’s marriage with PDP as nightmare, calling for political realignment.
It said in a statement issued on Monday, signed by its President-General, Comrade Goodluck Ibem, that Ndigbo have no future in PDP.