By CHARLES IWUOHA

Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South East zone and Governor of Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, at the weekend led party delegates to the zonal congress to elect Chief Ali Odefa as the National Vice Chairman (South East) of the PDP.

The PDP Southeast congress also elected 14 other members of the Zonal Executive Committee of the party through a peaceful and transparent election that was conducted by the Electoral Committee from the National Leadership of the PDP, led by Dr. Ibrahim Umar.

The electoral process was monitored and thereafter endorsed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as orderly, peaceful and credible.

The other elected Zonal Working Committee members, who were sworn-in alongside the new National Vice Chairman, Chief Odefa, are Chief Ugwu James (Zonal Secretary); Hon Emeka Okeke (Zonal Treasurer); Hon. Casmir Ugwu (Zonal Financial Secretary); Hon. Mike Ahumibe (Zonal Organizing Secretary); Barr. Ukpai Ukairo (Zonal Legal Adviser); Engr. Augustine Okeke; (Zonal Publicity Secretary); Hon. Lazarus Ogbe (Zonal Auditor); Hon. Mrs. Mary Omile (Zonal Woman Leader) and Comrade Chidiebere Egwu (Zonal Youth Leader).

The five others who were elected as Zonal Ex-officio members are Chief Damian Ozurumba (Abia); Hon. Mrs. Anthonia Nwankwu (Anambra); Engr. Francis Kalu (Ebonyi); Hon. Chief Romanus Edeh (Enugu) and Sir. Stanley Ekezie (Imo).

Six National Ex-officio members of the party from the South East were similarly elected, namely, Chief Ibe Nwadioha (Abia); Chief Barr. Okey Muo-Aroh (Anambra); Lady Barr. Nonye Nwangwu (Anambra); Hon. Harrison Onwe (Ebonyi); Princess Edith Okoro N. (Enugu) and Hon. Chinemerem Madu (Imo).

Declaring Odefa as the winner, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Dr. Umar, after announcing the result, said: “I Dr. Ibrahim Umar, the Chairman of the Electoral Panel of the 2021 South East Zonal Congress hereby declare Chief Ali Odefa as the duly elected National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the South East”.

Endorsing the PDP zonal congress, the Enugu State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Emeka Ononamadu stated: “We have observed the process and it was orderly; it was peaceful and the voting went successfully and we are satisfied with the outcome; so thank you for this peaceful congress.”

Authenticating the exercise, PDP South East leaders, such as former governors Peter Obi (Anambra) and Sam Egwu (Ebonyi); the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Rt. Hon. Oko Chukwu; Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi, unanimously described the electoral process as peaceful, free, fair and credible, declaring that it was the best election in the South East in recent time.

Responding on behalf of the newly elected Executives, the National Vice Chairman, Chief Odefa, thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi and other PDP delegates for electing them to serve the party.

He pledged that they will put the interest of the PDP first by providing a level playing ground and working for the victory of the party in the zone.

Chief Odefa therefore reassured stakeholders of the party in the South East that his leadership will not let them down, declaring that “every state that was taken from the PDP in this zone will be reclaimed by the party, starting from Anambra State”.

Other zonal PDP heavyweights who attended the congress included former Imo State Governor, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha; PDP National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu; the National Youth Leader, Rt. Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye; National and State Assembly members from the zone; Barr. Olisa Metuh; Chief Mrs. Josephine Anenih; Chief Chris Ubah; and the new returnee in Anambra State, Hon. Tony Nwoye.