South-East Zonal Congress: Governor Umahi and SA fights dirty over zonal chairman position?

The South East PDP zonal congress held at late Michael Okpara square, Enugu was nearly marred by the struggle of who should be considered as the National Vice Chairman of the party for the South East, in other words the zonal chairman between Hon Augustine Umahi, a younger brother to Ebonyi state governor Dave Umahi and Mr Ali Odefa, a special assistant on Security to Governor Umahi.

The situation arose from the fact that the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, in the South East zone, in their common principle and practice of internal democracy, zoned the position of next Zonal chairman of the party to Ebonyi state.
 Checks revealed that while Governor Umahi used his position to front his younger brother,Hon Augustine Umahi for the lofty position, Ali Odefa, who holds political appointment as a special assistant to Governor Umahi, insisted he is the better option,having being relating in party affairs at the zonal level more than Augustine Umahi.

Several appeals by the Deputy senate President, Senator Sam Egwu, an ex governor of the state and many other PDP party stalwarts across the South East zone, who gathered for the congress was futile. This singular problem delayed the start off the congress already scheduled for 12 noon up till four o'clock in the evening.

After much of the wasted time, the Deputy senate President,who holds  the highest political position in the present political dispensation, used his power to announce for the commencement of the congress. He stressed that even though they have witnessed some internal wranglings that is causing a delay to the take off of the congress, he assured that the South East Zonal Congress of PDP will eventually turn out to be the best across the federation.

But the unresolved internal crisis burst open, when the chairman of the congress committee,Barrister Igwe, stood up in the podium to announce that Mr Ali Odefa, is disqualified from partaking in the contest for the position of the zonal chairman.

Barrister Igwe said Mr Odefa is being disqualified on the strength of the petition before him, dated May 14,2016 stating that he didn't resign his position as special assistant on Security matters to Governor Umahi, before joining the contest for the position of National vice chairman of PDP,allotted to Ebonyi state.

Irked by the announcement, Ali Odefa did not allow the Congress Committee Chairman, Barr Igwe to finish reading the petition based on which he disqualified him from the contest, and climbed up the podium to disrupt the proceedings with alleged political thugs loyal to him. Almost immediately, thugs allegedly loyal to the Ebonyi state governor,Dave Umahi climbed up the podium to dislodge him.

In what looked like a movie, Mr Odefa,jumped down from the podium and headed to the V.I.P stand where Governor Dave Umahi was seated among other PDP governors of the South East and other dignitaries. But he was prevented by security agents from getting close.

Mr Odefa who felt cheated and zoomed off from Okpara square told news men that it was not true that he didn't resign his portfolio as special assistant on security matters to Governor Umahi before joining the context. He said he resigned as far back as April 15,2016 before purchasing the form for National vice chairman of PDP[South East], but Governor Umahi deliberately manipulated the system to favour his younger brother.

However, after the political drama and delay, the congress was finally conducted with Hon Augustine emerging as the National Vice chairman of PDP, South East, having scored 255 votes. Ali Odefa who drove away after the crisis, scored three valid votes.

Hon Augustine Umahi in his acceptance speech, described the political drama as part and parcels of the democratic process,which is rooted in Ebonyi state. He promised to take the PDP in the South East zone to a higher level by ensuring that the party regains total control of the five states in the South East zone. Also to work with the PDP serving governors in ensuring advancement of democracy and socio infrastructural development across the zone.

PDP SOUTH-EAST ZONAL CONGRESS: From left; Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Abia governor, Okezie Ikpeazu; Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, and former governor of Ebonyi State, Hon. Sam Ominyi Egwu, during the South East PDP Zonal Congress at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, yesterday.