Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
Abuja based lawyer, Mr. Silas Onu, has been installed as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Ebonyi State, following the sack of the erstwhile Chairman, Tochukwu Okorie by an Abuja federal high court.
Onu, who contested the chairmanship position of the party and lost to Okorie approached the court, citing irregularities at the congress that produced Okorie.
The court gave judgment in favour of Onu and declared him winner of the congress.
Onu, following the federal high court judgement, was sworn in by a notary public immediately but could not take over the party leadership.
Some stakeholders of the party in the state were said to have blocked his move to assume leadership of the party.
They cited an appeal of the ruling by Okorie as their reason for doing so.
However, Ọnụ at the weekend held a meeting with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, where it was gathered that far-reaching agreements were extracted from him to work with all stakeholders in the state, including those who worked against his emergence during the state congress last year.
It was also gathered that the party was advised to allow Mr. Ọnụ take over as there was no time to await for the appeal by Okorie with the primaries of the party expected to be concluded by June.
The National Working Committee of the party (NWC) in obedience to the Judgment of Court, therefore, declared Mr. Onu as the authentic State Chairman of the party.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba announced the decision in a statement.
Mr. Ologunagba enjoined all leaders, critical stakeholders, relevant agencies and teeming members of the party in Ebonyi State to work with and cooperate with the new Chairman.
Mr. Ọnụ, immediately moved to take over the state secretariat located along Enugu-Abakaliki Highway.
He was received by State Working Committee (SWC) members of the party, some stakeholders including Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Odii, a governorship aspirant.
Mr. Ọnụ while addressing the party faithful who trooped out to welcome him promised to ensure free and fair primaries.
He said: “my agenda is to make sure that PDP presents a fair, credible platform for all aspirants to compete and represent the party. It will be an exercise in futility if we gather to deceive ourselves and we are not doing election.
“Our job is to present the best candidate that the delegates want and to sell that candidate and to win election.
“We are not interested in where you come from or whether you are handsome or not, what we need is winning ability.”
