Politics

PDP Responds to Wike’s Challenge, Forms South-South Zonal Caretaker Committee

Published by admin on March 8th, 2025.

PDP Responds to Wike’s Challenge, Forms South-South Zonal Caretaker Committee

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has responded to a challenge from the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, by establishing a caretaker committee for the South-South geopolitical zone.

In a statement released on Friday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP clarified that the decision by the National Working Committee (NWC) was made to avoid any leadership gap and ensure the continuous functioning of the party in the region after the current zonal executive’s term concludes on March 9, 2025.

This move comes after the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt issued an injunction preventing the PDP and the National Vice Chairman for South-South, Dan Orbih, from conducting the zonal congress. The claimants in the case, identified as PDP members from Rivers State, Tonu Ejiogu and Field Nkor, had filed the suit, marked PHC/551/CS/2025.

Despite the court’s decision, the PDP went ahead with the congress in Calabar, Cross River State, where Wike, who had supported and attended the event, declared the South-South region as the party’s strongest base and stated that no further congress would be held there. He also maintained that the congress was properly conducted and that Orbih continued to hold his position as National Vice Chairman.

The electoral committee chair, Vita Abba, announced that Orbih won the election with 174 votes. However, disregarding Wike’s position, the NWC, led by Umar Damagum, proceeded to appoint Emma Ogidi as the Chairman of the new caretaker committee for the zone.

Additionally, the PDP named Chief Damiete Herbert-Miller as Secretary, with Nicholas Ayuwa, Godwin Akpan Udonta, Bekewei Ashanti, Idehen Ebomoyim, and Dame Vivian Ahanmisi as members.

The statement further explained, “The NWC of the PDP, in line with the provisions of the party’s Constitution (as amended in 2017), has approved the formation of the South-South Zonal Caretaker Committee to oversee the party’s affairs in the zone starting March 10, 2025.”

“The committee’s establishment is essential to prevent any leadership vacuum and ensure the smooth running of party activities in the South-South region following the expiration of the current Zonal Executive’s tenure on March 9, 2025.”

“The committee will manage the zone’s affairs for three months or until a new zonal executive is elected in line with the

PDP constitution.”