The stakeholders of the Enugu State Peoples Democratic Party have said they are determined to reclaim the seat of the Enugu Government House following the defection of Gov Peter Mbah on Tuesday.
Mbah had defected to the All Progressives Congress alongside members of the state executive council, local government chairmen, PDP state officials and many key stakeholders in the state, including former Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
However, the stakeholders, in a press release after a meeting held Thursday night, said they had “deprecated the defection to the APC by the governor of Enugu State”, describing the action “as cringeworthy”.
In a communique signed by the caucus Chairman, Dr Godwin Udibe, and the Secretary, Barr John Nwobodo, the stakeholders expressed regrets that Mbah left with the structure of the state PDP to APC.
According to them, “While we recognise that it is within the governor’s right in the exercise of his freedom of association to join any party of his choice, we expected him to have left the structure of the PDP in the state intact.”
They assured the PDP faithful in the state that not withstanding the vacuum created by the governor’s defection and the exit of all the PDP structures in the state, “there are more than enough able, competent and progressive members poised to reposition the party and reclaim the position of governor from Peter Mbah in 2027”.
Quoting the communique, “We declare that PDP remains a formidable platform in Enugu State. The defection of the governor, mostly House of Assembly members, executive council members, local government council chairmen and their deputies, councillors and most PDP executives and members will not affect the fortunes of the PDP in Enugu State.”
The meeting, according to the release, also resolved to “immediately commence a rebuilding effort under the auspices of New PDP Enugu State with Dr Godwin Udibe, former Commissioner for Lands, Enugu State, as Caucus Chairman, and Barr John Nwobodo as Caucus Secretary.”
The New PDP Enugu State commended the national leadership of the PDP for its efforts towards restructuring and repositioning PDP.
“We specially commend the ongoing preparations by the National Convention Organizing Committee led by the Adamawa State Governor, His Excellency, Umaru Fintri, for their steadfast commitment to organise a successful national convention.
“Most importantly, we appreciate the PDP leadership for appointing Senator Ben Obi as Secretary, PDP National Convention Organising Committee, to replace Governor Peter Mbah the erstwhile Secretary of the Committee,” the group said.
The group pledged to commence immediate reconciliatory efforts to unite members of the party in Enugu State. The release added that the New PDP would embark on a new membership drive “to populate the party with progressives”.
