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  • On malnutrition – and the YK Mules of Kwara PDP

    On malnutrition – and the YK Mules of Kwara PDP

    By Rafiu Ajakaye

    In December 2018, I was in Yola, Adamawa State, for a two-day media dialogue on Community Management of Acute Malnutrition. It was organized by UNICEF, DfID, and allied bodies to drive public advocacy on the crisis in which 33m under-five Nigerians were caught at the time. 

    That event was an eye-opener for me and my colleagues as experts detailed the factors driving the crisis. Malnutrition is not a function of poverty alone; in fact, ignorance and lifestyle may be bigger drivers of the menace. 

    Malnutrition could be found in the household of the rich, if the food on offer doesn’t  satisfy the dietary requirements for healthy growth of the child. Obesity is a form of malnutrition in growing children. While stunting and wasting are common among poor households, experts say ignorance may sometimes play bigger roles in snatching the future of the child. 

    For instance, a poorly breastfed child (from whichever social background) may suffer malnutrition. Similarly, any pregnant woman from whatever social backgrounds may give birth to a malnourished child. A pregnant woman who misses out on key dietary needs may give birth to a stunted child, regardless of her social standing. These are scientific facts which stress the role of education and advocacy in the fight against under-five malnutrition. 

    Therefore, malnutrition is a topic that should attract only serious-minded individuals to contribute. Kwara PDP voyeurs — which sadly includes a professor — should note this and join the advocacy to fight the crisis. 

    For the avoidance of doubt, the UNICEF did not at any time indict the state government in its report. Rather, UNICEF Country Representative Christian Munduate commended the efforts of this administration to combat the crisis.

    “Kwara State’s commitment to addressing child malnutrition is commendable. The Child Nutrition Fund enables us to double our efforts and reach more children with the essential nutrition they need. We hope this partnership serves as an inspiration for other states to prioritise child nutrition,” she said. 

    Kwara is just one of the 11 Nigerian states to sign up for the UNICEF’s Child Nutrition Fund, according to the official statement of the global body. Under the initiative, the state contributed a whopping $100,000 as counterpart funds to receive the Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), which is critical for the management of malnourished children. 

    Apart from the above, the administration has adopted policies and programmes that underpin its commitment to the wellbeing of the Kwara child: six-month maternity leave to encourage exclusive breastfeeding, school feeding programme, KwaraLEARN, widespread support for smallholder farmers and traders, the livestock productivity and resilience support project, and social protection like KWASSIP and Kwapreneur. 

    This administration has since signed up for nutrition-sensitive interventions such as maternal and infant young child nutrition (MIYCN) along with counselling and management of acute malnutrition in the state’s health facilities. This is in addition to the state policy on multi-sectoral plan of action, including community food demonstration.

    These do not fit the image of an unserious government. The PDP doesn’t have this record from their years. Maternal mortality was the worst in Nigeria under the PDP after the insurgency-wracked northeastern Borno state. In 2019, under-five mortality stood at 4.8 per 1000 live births. Today, Kwara has the least child mortality rate in Nigeria — at 2 per 1000 live births. 

    In 2019, Kwara wore the crown of shame in national immunisation coverage with monthly outbreaks of circulating polio disease. It was the worst in Nigeria. This is evidenced in the majority of Kwara LGAs not passing the National Lot Quality Assurance Survey (LQAS). Owing to a record of unresponsiveness, a worst form of which was seen in the UBEC blacklisting the state, the UNICEF left the state under PDP’s watch! 

    The PDP years were hardly a gold standard for anything salutary: the obnoxious law that awarded terrible pension packages was active throughout Ali Ahmad years as the Speaker. The diversion of UBEC funds, a big crime against the Kwara child, happened in those years, while the great Alimi Chalet was stolen from the people in those years. Teachers who mould the future of the children were not being paid in those years — just as promotion of workers stagnated in the ‘golden years’. The list is endless. So what was the law professor saying? I repeat: we won’t allow anyone to revise our history.

    Read Also: PDP secretariat, 4,793 others to be sealed Monday – Wike

    The national school feeding programme began in 2016. The PDP administration never enrolled until it lost power in 2019. The APC government enrolled in the programme in 2020. Even with existing gaps, access to public health facilities is many times better under this administration than PDP’s. So what is the chest-thumping about? 

    Prof Ali Ahmad’s claim that UNICEF declared Kwara fit-for-child in 2010 was a LIE —  a barefaced one. Kwara did domesticate the Child Rights Act in 2007, four years after Nigeria enacted it. Yes, but it wasn’t even among the first 10 Nigerian states to do so. It was a national trend that some northern states initially objected to on religious grounds. Today, all of Nigeria’s 36 states have domesticated the Act amid calls for improved implementation. 

    Much is expected from Ali Ahmad, a law professor, and his handlers must know this. At no time did UNICEF or any institution declare Kwara fit-for-child. The statement amounted to stacking the deck in the bid to glamorise the past. It is akin to what Gen Zs call YK Mule, an euphemism for outright lies. 

    Child malnutrition is a global public health crisis which requires all the resources and synergies that the government can mobilise. But that is where it stops: we should not find voyeurs from PDP, with their abysmal record, raising a whimper when such matters are discussed. 

    Rafiu is the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Kwara State

  • PDP crisis: Saraki, Dickson, Dankwambo storm Enugu, meet with Mbah

    PDP crisis: Saraki, Dickson, Dankwambo storm Enugu, meet with Mbah

    …southeast is important to PDP – Ex-Senate president 

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Special Reconciliation Committee, headed by former Senate President Bukola Saraki, on Friday met with Enugu State Governor and Southeast party leader, Dr. Peter Mbah, as part of efforts to resolve internal crises threatening the party’s unity in the region.

    The closed-door meeting, held at the Enugu Government House, had in attendance key committee members including former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, and former Gombe State Governor, Dr. Ibrahim Dankwambo.

    The visit comes amid growing tensions within the PDP in the Southeast, following a recent communiqué from the Zonal Executive Council (ZEC), which re-nominated former National Youth Leader, Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye, to complete the tenure of the National Secretary. 

    The leaders warned that failure to honor their decision could force them to reconsider their continued loyalty to the party.

    Addressing journalists after the meeting, Saraki said the committee’s mandate was to ensure a peaceful and united front ahead of the party’s forthcoming National Executive Council meeting and potential convention.

    “We are here as members of the PDP Reconciliation and Strategy Committee, set up by the PDP Governors’ Forum, to ensure that the coming NEC and convention are smooth and free of rancor,” Saraki stated.

    Read Also: PDP southeast stakeholders disown Enugu meeting, back Anyanwu as national secretary

    “In line with that, we are here in Enugu State to consult with one of our leaders, Governor Peter Mbah, who is the leader of Southeast PDP.

    “This is the first state we are coming to because we appreciate the importance of the Southeast in our PDP family. As you all know, the Southeast has played a key role as the bedrock of the popularity and the strength of our party.

    “In recognition of that, we are here to consult with him and first to commend him on the leadership role he has been playing in the party. More importantly also, to commend what he is doing in Enugu State, which is a reflection for Nigerians to see what happens when you have a PDP government.

    “In doing that, we discussed how we will ensure that we carry out the assignment given to us and go ahead to have our NEC and our convention. We will have one that is rancor-free and smooth, peaceful and lays the foundation for the PDP that we all are wishing for.

    “We have had a very good discussion. Frankly, we have had a very, very useful discussion. We are going away with some of the suggestions that we have here and hopefully work on that.

    “With this, we can say here in Enugu we laid the foundation for a greater new PDP that is coming.

    “What we have also seen today is that there is nothing insurmountable in the challenge ahead and the spirit, the commitment of all of us, especially our leaders, is very very inspiring,” he stated.

  • PDP southeast stakeholders disown Enugu meeting, back Anyanwu as national secretary

    PDP southeast stakeholders disown Enugu meeting, back Anyanwu as national secretary

    Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South East have dismissed a recent meeting held at the Enugu State Government House as illegitimate and of no consequence to the party’s affairs.

    The stakeholders, who met in Abuja, said the Enugu gathering was convened by Ali Odefa, whom they described as a factional leader and no longer recognized as the PDP National Vice Chairman (South East).

    According to Chidiebere Egwu, the factional vice chairman, the meeting lacked legitimacy and was a “nullity.”

    Egwu reiterated the group’s unwavering support for Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s authentic National Secretary during the Abuja meeting.

    The South East PDP has been embroiled in a leadership tussle between Anyanwu and former National Youth Leader Ude Okoye, with the Odefa camp backing Okoye and the Egwu faction standing with Anyanwu.

    Odefa was reportedly suspended and subsequently expelled by his ward executives in Ebonyi State last year, a move upheld by a Federal High Court in Abakaliki.

    In his place, the PDP in Ebonyi recommended Chidiebere Egwu, further deepening the factional crisis within the party in the region.

    The Abuja meeting included prominent Southeast PDP leaders, including former Abia State Governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, Senator Michael Amah Nnachi, Senator Paulinus Igwe Nwagu, Hon. Jones Onyeriri, Zonal Legal Adviser Barr. Ukpai Ukairo, Zonal Organising Secretary Rt. Hon. Mike Ahumibe, and PDP chairmen from Imo and Abia states, among others.

    Read Also: Oyo speaker, leads PDP lawmakers to senatorial meeting in Igboora, calls for unity

    In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the stakeholders reaffirmed their call on the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) to obey the Supreme Court judgment that recognized Senator Anyanwu as the legitimate National Secretary.

    They also urged the public and party members to disregard the Enugu meeting orchestrated by Odefa.

    Additionally, they demanded the immediate conduct of congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra states, which currently lack valid State Working Committees. The communiqué further cited several court rulings affirming Odefa’s expulsion and called on the Zonal Working Committee to initiate contempt proceedings against him.

    The stakeholders concluded by urging party members to support the reconciliation efforts led by former Senate President Senator Bukola Saraki to restore unity and resolve the ongoing leadership crisis for the party’s survival.

    “We, PDP South East stakeholders comprising BOT members, National Working Committee members, former Governor, Senators, Honourable members of House of Representatives and House of Assembly Members, past and present, the National Vice Chairman, South East and Zonal Working members and major high net worth members of the PDP across the States in the South East hereby, resolve thus:

    “We commend the leadership of the PDP for setting up the Dr. Bukola Saraki-led Reconciliatory Committee and we are hopeful that the outcome will be in line with the legal status of the state of affairs in the PDP as espoused in the constitution and decisions of the courts, and that major gladiators would abide by the outcome.

    “It is hoped that the vile aim of the outcome of said meeting held at Government House, Enugu directed by the conveners and attendees at sabotaging the effort of the Reconciliatory Committee would come to naught.

    “The Supreme Court has settled, with finality, the status of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, and it is on record that the INEC has, rightly, given effect to the said judgment, which is the right thing to do.

    “In view of 2 above, we hereby serve a note of advice that, in the administration of the PDP, it is impossible to ignore the lawful status of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the PDP and any attempt to stand against this clear position of the law will cause irreversible political damages because INEC would not give effect to the outcome of conventions, congresses and primary elections that do not have the signature of the lawful National Secretary.

    “In the same breath, it is important to stress that the Deputy National Secretary can only act in the absence of the National Secretary as evident in the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    “The clear and express provision of the PDP Constitution is that the offices of the National Secretary and Deputy National Secretary are not conjunctive. Accordingly, the pathway of directing the Deputy National Secretary to act in a situation where the National Secretary is not absent is an endorsement of illegality, which cannot stand legal scrutiny.

    “We, therefore, call on the National Working Committee and in particular, the Acting National Chairman, to abide by the clear provisions of the Constitution of the PDP and comply with the Supreme Court judgment to steer the Party on the path of legality.

    “The PDP is a political party that evolved on the altar of constitutional democracy, founded on respect for the rule of law. On this note we demand that the Board of Trustees, the conscience of the party, and the Governors Forum must give full effect to the tenets of rule of law, and the manifest implication of this historic burden, is that both bodies, do not have a choice other than to respect the status of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the lawful National Secretary.

  • PDP senators differ with governors over coalition

    PDP senators differ with governors over coalition

    • ‘Party remains strong’

    The Senate Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday disagreed with the party’s governors on the call for a coalition.

    Yesterday, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, who is the PDP Caucus leader, told reporters that a coalition was the way to go.

    He called on party faithful to remain resolute and loyal to the party, saying the idea of a one-party state is anti-democratic.

    The governors, after a meeting in Ibadan on April 14, ruled out PDP involvement in any coalition or merger ahead of the 2027 elections.

    The governors said: “On the nationwide speculations about a possible merger of political parties, groups and/or associations, the Forum resolved that the PDP will not join any coalition or merger.

    “However, the PDP as a major opposition party welcomes any party, persons or groups that are willing to join it with a view to wresting power and enthroning good leadership in 2027.”

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had rallied the opposition into a coalition and merger.

    On March 20 at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, Atiku, in company with Nasir El-Rufai and others, announced the plan for a coalition of the opposition against the APC.

    Moro, flanked by majority of PDP members in the Senate, said: “Rising from its meeting, the Senate Caucus of the PDP issues the following statement to assure its members that contrary to insinuations that the party is in shreds and on the verge of collapse, the party remains strong and will continue to wax stronger.

    Read Also: How PDP can bounce back, by Bagos

    “The PDP Senate Caucus observes that the current conflicts in the PDP are not unique to the party, as all the other parties, such as the APC, the Labour Party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, the Social Democratic Party etc, have their own share of crisis and conflicts.

    “The Senate Caucus of the PDP, therefore, urges all our teaming members to remain resolute in their commitment, dedication, and loyalty to the Party.

    “The Caucus believes that the series of activities lined up by the leadership of the party will throw up a new lease of life and leadership in the party that will make it competitive in future elections.

    “The Senate Caucus of the PDP states further that the beauty of democracy is in the existence of robust opposition to keep the ruling party in check to ensure good governance.

    “Celebrating the emasculation of other parties and tilting towards a one-party state will not advance the cause of democracy.

    “The Senate Caucus of the PDP states that it is not averse to the idea and ideals of coalition.

    “The Caucus observes that the synthesisation of ideas and creating a harmony of ideals will further the beauty of democracy.

    “However, the Caucus advises that any such coalition should be driven by political parties and not individuals.

    “And as the biggest of all the opposition parties, the PDP’s umbrella is big enough to accommodate all persons desirous of coalition.

    “The PDP, therefore, should drive the coalition if and when it becomes necessary.

    “Finally, the Senate Caucus of the PDP states emphatically that the party is a big brand that is competitive.

    “In all nooks and crannies of Nigeria, there are PDP members.

    “The Caucus asserts that out of the throes of the current conflicts in the Party will arise a renewed, vibrant party that will give Nigeria an alternative to the current ruling party.

    “The Caucus, therefore, urges all members of the party to rededicate, recommit and demonstrate steadfast and unwavering loyalty to the party to provide a safeguard for democracy in Nigeria.”

    Also yesterday, former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu said despite perceptions that the PDP was in crisis and may not recover before the 2027 general elections, the party’s “ghost” was stronger than most other parties.

    Ikpeazu spoke during a Southeast PDP stakeholders’ meeting, where he emphasised the need for unity among party leaders in the region.

    He urged all warring factions within the party to sheathe their swords and await the outcome of the strategy committee led by former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki.

    “Even in what some may call its weakest moment, the ghost of the PDP is stronger than most political parties in this country.

    “That’s why we must be careful not to destroy what we have built over the years. We should close ranks, respect constituted authority, and allow peace to reign,” Ikpeazu said.

  • PDP begs southeast to reconsider exit threat over Ude-Okoye nomination

    PDP begs southeast to reconsider exit threat over Ude-Okoye nomination

    Rattled by the South East Zonal Executive Caucus (ZEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) threatening to reconsider its relationship with the party over the rejection of Sunday Ude-Okoye as National Secretary, the party leadership on Tuesday appealed for calm and unity.

    The National Working Committee (NWC), the PDP’s highest administrative body, urged the zone to remain with the party, promising to address its grievances fairly and transparently.

    Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, made the plea while receiving the ZEC’s report at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on behalf of the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Iliyasu Umar Damagum.

    Arapaja assured the delegation that the matter would be deliberated upon at the next NWC meeting and a resolution forwarded to the National Executive Committee (NEC) for final action.

    “This resolution will be discussed during our next meeting. We will look at it, we will do justice to it, and we will do our best,” he said. “When it is transmitted to the NEC, I am confident we will collectively find a lasting solution.”

    Acknowledging the region’s dissatisfaction, Arapaja said the PDP values its contributions and recognises its concerns as valid, urging party members not to allow temporary setbacks to undermine long-standing unity.

    “I know you are not happy with the situation, and it’s understandable. These things happen in politics. But we must remain together and continue to speak up constructively,” he added.

    “I know you are not happy, and I understand why you are not happy, but even as you are angry out there, we can find a solution. It’s like a landlord running out of his own house because the house is leaking. 

    “So, we’ll do our best, we’ll do our best to fix the problem, and I know we can do it, together we can do it. There is a solution. This is the only party that belongs to the people. Yes, it doesn’t belong to anybody. It’s the only party where you can feel peaceful, you can express your opinion. It’s just like that in any family.

     “I want to appeal that. We can do it. We can resolve it. And I know we will resolve it. And I know, and I’m quite sure, that PDP will overcome.”

    Submitting the Zonal Executive Committee report, the leader of the Senate Minority Whip, Senator Osita Ngwu, reaffirmed their position as reached last week at its crucial meeting at Enugu Government House and appealed to the NWC to honour their recommendation.

    “Mr. Chairman, if you recall, on March 31st, 2025, the Supreme Court, which is the apex court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, brought to a closure the protracted issue surrounding the puzzle of the National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party.

    “Following that judgment of the Supreme Court, the PDP Government House forum also met in Oyo State on the 14th of April, 2025, and also passed a resolution.

    “You can also recall that here, at the National Office on April 29th, the National Working Committee also met and adopted that resolution of the governor’s forum. And what is that resolution? 

    “The resolution is that the South East Zonal Executive Committee should meet and nominate a candidate who fills the position of the National Secretary. 

    “Mr. Chairman, I need to remind us, or make it clear, that the position of the South East on this issue has always been to find a pathway to a lasting resolution of the impacts and crisis in the PDP. 

    “And also, in all intents and purposes, to ensure that this party continues to progress well. We are looking for a lasting peace so that we can perform better in the upcoming and subsequent elections. 

    “Mr. Chairman, from our communique, which is in this report that I am going to hand over to you, and in the meeting that was recently held by the South East Executive Committee of the party at the Zonal Office, we unanimously agreed and nominated the former youth leader of the party, Rt. Honorable S.K. Ude-Okoye, to be our nominee for the position of the National Secretary of our great party, the PDP.

    “Mr. Chairman, we are going to give you this report, and our prayers and our urge and our appeal is that this party should carefully look through even other precedents that have been set in replacement of National Working Committee members or other officers of the committee of the PDP that have been done. We are not trying to set a precedent. We are not trying to do a new thing because the precedent has been set.

    “We are asking you to look at a zone that has been the backdrop and backbone of the PDP, a zone that has delivered all the National Assembly members, all governors to the PDP in the past. A zone that is eager to redeem its past glory. We are praying that the request of this zone should not be jeopardised. Let us look at it based on the point of its merits.

    “Let it be a stepping stone in our urge and our drive to reposition our party. We are not here to make another request, but we are speaking to our consciences so that whatever decision that is taken at the end should be for the interest of the party and a position that is going to support us, a position that is going to lift the morale of the members of this great party towards a sustainable growth and a path of recovery.”

    The meeting had the acting National Secretary, Arc. Setonji Koshoefo, the National Vice Chairman  (South East) Chief Ali Odefa,  some NWC members, former National Organising Secretary, Senator Austin Akobundu, Jon. Dennis Agbo and the pioneer National Woman Leader of the party, Iyom Josephine Anenih.

  • National secretary position: Mbah, Wabara, Udenwa, others back southeast PDP’s exit threat

    National secretary position: Mbah, Wabara, Udenwa, others back southeast PDP’s exit threat

    Key leaders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southeast have backed the zone’s threat to reconsider its relationship with the party if its choice of Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the National Secretary is not respected for the umpteenth time.

    While Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu state, who is the leader of the PDP in the zone, said it was time for the zone to speak with one voice, the chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and former governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa, expressed fury over what they described as the party’s disrespecting and trampling of the region.

    The zonal caucus had vented its displeasure in a communique read by the Zonal Chairman, Chief Ali Odefa, at the end of a meeting by the Southeast Zonal Executive (ZEC) at the Government House, Enugu.

    It said the meeting was convened to nominate a candidate to complete the remaining term of the position of National Secretary in line with the directive of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, during its 600th meeting in Abuja.

    According to Wabara, it was to review the region’s relationship with the party that he described as trampling on the zone by the party persisting.

    “We have been trampled upon, not taken seriously. If such a position were vacant in the South-South, it would not be like this. And now, it has come to us. I mean, the usual thing is to play politics with the Igbo man. Yes, we may have to reconsider our stand as far as the party is concerned. But I trust the NWC,” he stated.

    Udenwa, on his part, said, “We are expecting that this issue will be finally ironed out once and for all. We do not want to be taken for granted by anybody again.”

    Rendering the communique, Odefa said, “The South East ZEC exhaustively deliberated on the directive of the NWC and came to the conclusion that it offered a sure pathway to peace, unity, stability, and progress of our party. Consequently, the ZEC unanimously recommended Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the candidate to complete the term of office of the National Secretary.”

    The South East PDP, however, regretted that it had to go through the process of nominating Udeh-Okoye severally since October 2023, and urged the NWC to not only immediately ratify his nomination, but also ensure that Arch. Setonji Koshoedo effectively occupies the Office of the National Secretary in acting capacity pending Udeh-Okoye’s ratification by the NEC.

    The South East PDP, however, threatened to review its continued membership of the party should its position suffer further delay despite its agelong loyalty to the PDP.

    “The South East has consistently served as a stronghold of the PDP from inception. In PDP’s nearly three-decade existence, we have given our loyalty and all to the party.

    “Currently, while the party has been losing key members post-2023 general elections, the South East PDP is at the vanguard of strengthening the Party by rallying major opposition figures such as in Enugu where the Labour Party, LP, gubernatorial candidate, two LP House of Representatives Members, numerous members of the House of Assembly, among other stalwarts into the PDP fold.

    “Therefore, we hope that this time around, the position of the South East PDP regarding the Office of the National Secretary is accorded the honour and immediacy it deserves. This would bring closure to the needless lingering dispute over the matter.

    “However, if our position is not promptly implemented by the Party, the South East PDP, as a family, will be compelled to reconsider our relationship with the PDP going forward,” the communique concluded.

  • Southeast PDP caucus threatens to dump party

    Southeast PDP caucus threatens to dump party

    The Southeast Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday threatened to reconsider its relationship with the party if its nomination of Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the national secretary of the party is not considered.

    The ZEC insisted that it has complied with the directive of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) during its 600th meeting held at the Party’s National Headquarters, Wadata Plaza, Wuse, Abuja, on April 29, 2025, that the Southeast ZEC of the party should nominate a candidate for the office of the National Secretary to serve out the remaining tenure zoned to the region.

    It also urged the PDP NWC to uphold its decision at its 600th meeting on April 29, 2025, by ensuring that the Deputy National Secretary of the PDP functions as the Acting National Secretary pending the ratification of the nominee for the Office of the National Secretary by NEC in line with the recommendations of the PDP Governors’ Forum as adopted by the NWC.

    These were contained in a communiqué issued on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at the end of the Southeast PDP (ZEC) meeting held at the Government House, Enugu.

    The communiqué, which was signed by the Zonal Chairman, PDP, Southeast, Chief Ali Odefa, recalled that on March 21, 2025, the Supreme Court brought to a close the protracted legal tussle over the position of the National Secretary of the PDP.

    “The apex court, in its ruling, held that the issue of the leadership of a political party was the internal affairs of such a party and that the courts and INEC had no jurisdiction and ought not to interfere.

    “Following the consideration of the report of the panel it set up to review the Supreme Court judgment, the PDP Governors’ Forum, at its April 14, 2025 meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State, recommended that the South East PDP should nominate a candidate, who would serve out the remaining tenure of the National Secretary of the Party zoned to the region.

    “In adopting the PDP Governors’ Forum’s recommendation, the NWC during its 600th Meeting held at the Party’s National Headquarters, Wadata Plaza, Wuse, Abuja, on April 29, 2025, directed the South East ZEC of our party to nominate a candidate for the Office of the National Secretary, accordingly.

    “Today’s meeting was therefore convened in accordance with this directive. Rising from the meeting, the ZEC resolved to issue the following communique:

    “The South East ZEC exhaustively deliberated on the directive of the NWC and came to the conclusion that it offered a sure pathway to peace, unity, stability, and progress of our party. Consequently, the ZEC unanimously recommended Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the candidate to complete the term of office of the National Secretary.

    “We also urge the NWC to uphold its decision at its 600th meeting on April 29, 2025, by ensuring that the Deputy National Secretary of the PDP functions as the Acting National Secretary pending the ratification of the nominee for the Office of the National Secretary by NEC in line with the recommendations of the PDP Governors’ Forum as adopted by the NWC.

    “The South East ZEC further noted that the zone has had to go through this process for the umpteenth time, unlike what obtains in the filling of vacant national offices by other zones.

    “It is recalled that the South East ZEC met in October 2023 and nominated Rt. Hon. Udeh-Okoye to serve out the remaining term of the National Secretary. This position was reaffirmed during the February 20, 2024, meeting of the PDP South ZEC. We also reiterated this during the meeting of ZEC in Enugu on Friday, January 25, 2025.

    Read Also: Kebbi PDP: we’re unshaken by Aliero’s, others’ exit

    “The South East has consistently served as a stronghold of the PDP from inception. In its nearly three-decade existence, we have given our loyalty and all to the Party.

    “Currently, while the Party has been losing key members post-2023 general election, the South East PDP is at the vanguard of strengthening the Party by rallying major opposition figures into the PDP fold.

    “In Enugu State, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party is back in the PDP. Two Members of the House of Representatives are equally back in the PDP from the Labour Party. Furthermore, PDP seats in the Enugu State House of Assembly have grown from 10 at the inception of the Assembly to 20 today.

    “Therefore, we hope that this time around, the position of the South East PDP regarding the Office of the National Secretary is accorded the honour and immediacy it deserves. This would bring to a closure the needless lingering dispute over the matter.

    “However, if our position is not promptly implemented by the Party, the South East PDP, as a family, will be compelled to reconsider our relationship with the PDP going forward”.

  • Kebbi PDP: we’re unshaken by Aliero’s, others’ exit

    Kebbi PDP: we’re unshaken by Aliero’s, others’ exit

    The defection of three senators from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be of no consequence to the strength and prospects of the PDP Kebbi State, the party said yesterday.

    Reacting to exist of senators Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North) and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) during a press conference at its Secretariat in Birnin Kebbi, the local chapter of the PDP o described the move by the senators as a betrayal.

    “We are not shaken by their defection. The PDP remains strong and will continue to stand firm in Kebbi State,” its state Chairman, Usman Bello Suru, told reporters.

    Read Also: PDP governors rally to hold party together

    Expressing disappointment, he stated that the party had supported the senators when they were denied tickets by the APC in the 2023 elections.

    “When the APC rejected them, it was the PDP that gave them a platform and stood by them. Now, they are returning to the same APC that has brought hardship and high cost of living to the people,” he said.

    Suru criticised the motives behind the defection, saying it was driven by personal interest rather than the public good.

    “They did not leave for the sake of the people. They left for their selfish ambitions. It is an act of ingratitude,” he added.

  • Lack of arrowhead, bane of PDP crisis, says Moro

    Lack of arrowhead, bane of PDP crisis, says Moro

    Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro spoke on the gale of defections from the Peoples Democratic Party and its implications for the party. Assistant Editor EMMANUEL BADEJO reports

    What do you think about the decision of the NWC to go legal in challenging the Delta State defections?

    I think that is the right thing to do for the PDP to do now. I do not know that after the PDP’s exit, it is trite that those elected on its platform should be challenged.  There is a moral question to answer in this case. It is unfortunate that these people who have grown through the ranks of the party and their political career, and having gotten everything through the party, they decided to leave the party midstream and this calls for some kind of apprehension within the polity.  I think it is reprehensible that this thing is happening at this point in time. I know that as a law abiding organisation, the party has the option of pursuing this issue legally not necessarily for the decampees to return to the party, but at least to show that you cannot bite the fingers that fed you.  I think the NWC has taken the right decision to make a statement that you cannot just watch the people betray the party and go scot free.

     Do you think that the party is in the right shape to pursue that course of action considering a statement by one of the defectors, who said he regretted being on a joint ticket with your presidential candidate in 2023?

    I will not like to join issues with Senator Ifeanyi Okowa in the first place.  Let me tell you that some people felt so disappointed that he was picked as the party’s vice presidential candidate in the first place. We found out that there were other persons who have contributed much more to the party; persons who were more committed; persons that would have ordinarily helped the party to win the election.  It is unfortunate that at his level, having been a senator, a governor under the platform of the PDP, I think it is uncharitable for him to come forth now and say that he regretted being on the joint ticket with Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar.  He was not forced, but he asked for it and he was given.

    But, was he not a choice of Atiku Abubakar?

    Yes, a choice of Atiku under certain conditions. There were insinuations, for instance, he was said to have contributed substantially to the campaign of Atiku, and it was in consideration that he was picked. Besides, there was this clamour within the party at the time of some level of marginalization of the Igbo nation. He was also considered as a bridge to stand in the gap. But, we have seen what eventually happened. At some levels, some people including myself concluded that his choice was a political miscalculation.  We should not have picked him in the first place. Having risen to such a level in the party, he could have simply walked away without making the excuse he advanced. He was picked, he was not forced.  He had the option of rejecting his nomination.  I think the most important thing is now that he has defected with his governors from the PDP to the APC, let the game begin.

    If Okowa was not on the ticket, would your party have won the 2023 general election?

    I would rather say that given what we know now, with the hindsight that we have now, some of us think that the party would have won the election, if another candidate other than Okowa from the South had been picked.

    So, there was an error in judgment of Atiku Abubakar picking Okowa?

    I think there was an error of judgment on the part of everybody that was involved in the choice of Okowa as a candidate.  Come to think about it: how else can you explain this scenario? That a sitting governor, a former senator, a vice presidential candidate of the party could deliver his state even to the presidential candidate. And to think that of all the senators from that state, the PDP won only one senatorial seat. I can tell you that that person may have won that election on his own merit because of his depth and his contribution to the community.  So, I think that picking Okowa as the presidential candidate of the party in 2023 was a very serious error of judgment.

    As it stands now, I can confidently conclude that we lost the election for lack of commitment, otherwise, how can you explain that shortly after losing the state, which should have been an easy pick for the PDP, instead of rendering an apology to the party and Nigerians, he decided to ditch the party?  That means, in the first place, his soul was not in the party, his soul was not in that election, hence, we performed miserably in Delta State. 

    If Atiku Abubakar leaves the PDP, will it be more damaging for your party?

    Atiku definitely has his own place in history and the formation and organization of the PDP.  He has his own place as a very strong member and two-term presidential candidate of the party. Yes, if he leaves, it will create a vacuum in the party. If he leaves, it will create some sore wounds at the party. But, if he leaves, it will be his choice. Nevertheless, I can assure you that for all of us who are here, there are other Nigerians that are out there and the PDP will reorganize itself in the absence of these people and forge ahead. People who are worried about damaging the PDP or leaving the PDP are those who are fixated on 2027.  The life of PDP is not tied to 2027.  The PDP is an organisation. Don’t forget that at some point, the PDP controlled 28 state governments, 28 houses of assembly and of course the two arms of the National Assembly. If the PDP is facing some dwindling fortunes now that is not to say the party will be dead. I can assure you that out of these failures and betrayers, the PDP is going to reorganise itself, learning from the mistakes and forge ahead.

    While Atiku is talking to other people pushing the coalition agenda, the PDP governors won’t have any of that. With the latest defections, do you also think it will not affect your party?

    I didn’t say that these defections will not affect the party, it will certainly do. Like I said at the beginning, it is rather unfortunate that people who have lived all their lives in the PDP, suddenly switched camps. One of the advisers of the Delta governor said that these people slept in PDP and woke up in APC.  The said adviser subsequently resigned his position because he chose not to go with the defectors to the APC.

    Read Also: PDP governors rally to hold party together

    The point I am trying to make is that, yes, we are having a gale of defections hitting the PDP, and unfortunately, some prominent members of the party have actually left the party.  Yet, in my own right, I am the leader of the party in my constituency, but I do not make either the electorate or the elections. Those who make the elections are the ordinary party, the masses; they are the ones who make the party. And so, if I say today that, yes, Okowa has left; yes, the governor has left, but I can tell you that within the party, you can find one or two people, who may not be governors, but can replace the governor.  The governor didn’t elect himself; the people elected him.

    Today, the euphoria trailing Okowa and the governor’s defections is because those appointed by the governor and those elected alongside with them, took the decision to move to the new party due to fear of losing their jobs. But, I can tell you that soonest, when reality dawns on them, they may regret their decision.

    As an experienced politician that you are, what do you think would have left Senator and the rest in Delta out of PDP?

    I think Senator Okowa had said before that he left to benefit the resources at the centre. Two, he left to enjoy the goodwill of the Federal Government.  But, when you look at it from the perspective of somebody who has been a two-term senator, a two-term governor on the platform of PDP, you’ll think that something must be wrong with Nigerian politics.  Otherwise, where morality counts, where conscience pricks, it is unimaginable that having gone through the ranks on the platform of PDP, now at the twilight of your life in politics, you decided to jump ship.

    What happens about your party being sick, having too many crises it is contending with?

    Well, what you are talking about is the crisis. All of these are happening due to the failure of the so- called leader of the party.  If the party, which you claimed to be a leader, is in crisis, it is your primary duty to fix it. So, why are they running away? Your house is on fire, you won’t put out the fire; you run away from your house and everything including your family inside the house gets burnt.

    Do you see the PDP being rescued from these crises?

    You can say that again.  We are here. I started with PDP in 1998 when I was elected as the chairman in my local government, and I’m still here. I am not going anywhere because I have no reason to go anywhere.  And because there are crises in the party now, the crises that ordinarily the leaders of the party should be able to fix, it is just unfortunate.

    If the PDP dies tomorrow, will you still stick with it?

    PDP will not die tomorrow, that I can assure you. I can assure that by 2026/2027, we’re going to tell a different story of the PDP.  Don’t forget that activities have been lined up like other political parties.

    What we are suffering from now is the challenge of the PDP not having an arrowhead that can knock heads together and stop the declension.  The APC is in power today, and it has the president as its apex leader, who frontally addresses some issues.  Otherwise, if you think about the legal implications of the crises in the PDP, the APC also has its own problems. The National Chairman is in court.  The party from the national level to the state is in crisis. 

    In Benue state for instance, we have two chairmen of APC.  While one was elected, the other was appointed by the incumbent governor. And they are all regarded as chairmen of the party in the state.  Nobody is talking about it today because they are in power.

    Your party always looks at either the president or the person who last held the ticket.  Do you think that Atiku Abubakar should rise to the action as many are afraid that if something is not urgently done, the party might lose its life?

    If you ask for my personal opinion, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is one person that I respect a lot. In the last general election in 2023, I was one person that stood out in the face of all odds branding new cars for Atiku. About seven or eight of my campaign vehicles bore his image. I did this because I recognize him, and I saw in him somebody, who ordinarily will be able to attend to the wishes of Nigerians.  And, having struggled that far, I worked for him.  After the election, given his ambition to become president and wishing to contest once more, I expected that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar should have started from day one mobilising and galvanizing the people to have some levels of cohesion. Quite frankly, I think if there was anybody that could have brought the party together from the disastrous loss of the PDP in 2023, that person certainly was Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    Your party is also losing ground in the Senate, having lost about seven members to the ruling party and we are hearing that your party may lose four or five more states.  How can your party stop hurricane Tinubu sweeping your party away?

    The crises in the PDP, not necessarily about the Tinubu tsunami, as they call it.  I think that we have had our own fair share of internal crises. The challenge bedeviling our party is the lack of an arrowhead who can assuage the feelings of party members due to our failure in the 2023 general election. Having said that, I can say that some of the issues we are having now is lack of confidence.  In the run off to the state congresses that we held recently in the party, there are certain undercurrent factors. Let me take Delta for instance where the governor bought all the congress forms for all the elective offices in the state. At the time, Senator Ned Nwoko approached me with a complaint that he didn’t know what was going on in his party, constituency, local government and even in his ward. The chairman and the organizing secretary made efforts to reconcile issues, but it didn’t yield any result. Then, Senator Nwoko felt sidelined in the whole process.  Looking at it now, you can see the powerplay that played out.  I can tell you for free that some of these persons were compromised.

    Look at the case of Senator Kawo in Kano.  He is a vibrant politician, who will ordinarily not leave his political party that gave him the breath of life. Simply because he wants to be in the comfort zone, he jumped ship.

    What role do you think Minister Wike Nyesom is playing in all of this?

    The whole process is actually a long-drawn battle. That calls to question leadership.  The Wike disaffection arose from his perceived cheating in the convention. Wike contested to be a presidential candidate. Somehow in the process, he didn’t win.  He felt that certain elements in the party had connived to undermine his capacity to win that nomination. That brought some issues, which a very cohesive and organized party would have addressed.  Painfully, this was not done.

  • BREAKING: Three Kebbi senators formally defect to APC

    BREAKING: Three Kebbi senators formally defect to APC

    The three senators from Kebbi State on Tuesday officially defected from the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the floor of the Senate.

    Senators Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North) and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South), are the latest lawmakers to dump the PDP for the APC following a wave of defections that has hit the party.

    The defection of Aliero, Abdullahi, Maidoki brings the number of senators on the platform of the APC in the 10th Senate to 68 while the PDP dropped to 30 members from 33.

    In the current composition of the Nigerian Senate, the All Progressives Congress (APC) leads with 68 members, followed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which holds 30 seats.

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    Other political parties represented include the Labour Party (LP) with five senators, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) with two, while the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have one senator each.

    Meanwhile, two seats remain vacant following the death of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who represented Anambra South, and the emergence of Senator Monday Okpebholo, the former representative of Edo Central, as the new Governor of Edo State.

    Details shortly….