The National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the South-East zone, Chief Ali Odefa, announced over the weekend that the party is being revitalized to not only play a strong opposition role but also to wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at both state and national levels in the 2027 general election.
Speaking to journalists at the conclusion of the State Elective Congress held at the PDP State Secretariat along the Abakaliki-Enugu highway, Odefa highlighted the large turnout of delegates as a sign of the enthusiasm and commitment that people still have for the PDP, not only in Ebonyi but across Nigeria.
"We are putting our house in order, getting our act together to wrest power from the ruling party, APC," Odefa stated. He advised the new state leadership to focus on building the party and reconciling various interests, as unity is essential for strengthening the party.
Odefa added that the PDP is open to welcoming back members who had left the party but are interested in contesting under the PDP banner in the 2027 elections. "An implosion awaits the other parties. This is the Peoples Democratic Party, and we will open our arms to anyone wishing to return," he said.
Mr. Peter Nwele, the newly elected Chairman of the PDP in Ebonyi State, expressed his commitment to restoring the party to its former glory. Addressing party members after his swearing-in, Nwele outlined his primary goals: to reconcile with aggrieved members, bring them back to the PDP fold, and ensure that the party regains its prominence as the leading opposition in the state.
Nwele, who was elected in what he described as a peaceful and credible election, thanked members for their trust and promised to maintain an open-door administration. "We owe a paramount duty to our great party. We will bring back the lost glory of the PDP by reaching out to all aggrieved members, as Ebonyi is a historically PDP-dominated state. The party is large enough to accommodate everyone," he affirmed.
Meanwhile, Mr. Ugonna Ogbonna, chairman of the PDP State Congress Committee (SCC), announced the election results, confirming that the process followed all guidelines, including delegate accreditation. He reported that the election was conducted smoothly and was both credible and transparent, with the presence of officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and various security agencies such as the police, Civil Defence, and the Department of State Security (DSS) to monitor and ensure a secure process.
