Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, has affirmed Chidiebere Egwu as the National Vice Chairman (NVC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), South-East zone.
Egwu was nominated by the South-East stakeholders of the party as replacement for Chief Ali Odefa who was expelled from the party for alleged anti-party activities.
The court gave the ruling whole delivering judgement in suit No: FHC/AI/CS/229/2024 filed by Egwu (plaintiff) Vs Umar M. Bature (National Organising Secretary, PDP), Chief Ali Odefa, the Peoples Democratic Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) (defendants).
Justice Hilary Oshomah in the ruling held that the office of the National Vice Chairman South-East was vacant before the nomination of the Plaintiff to replace the 1st Defendant and complete the unexpired tenure of the 1st Defendant as the National Vice Chairman of the PDP South-East Zone.
He noted this to be in tandem with the combined provisions of Article 45, 47(6), 58 and 59 of the PDP Constitution (as amended, 2017) as well as the subsisting judgement of the Federal High Court in Suit No: FHC/Ai/CS/182/2024 which affirmed the suspension of the 1st Defendant (Chief Ali Odefa) from the PDP and subsequent expulsion from the party by the Executive Committee of the PDP in Oguduokwor Ward, Onicha Local Government Area of the state.
The Court also ordered the 2nd Defendant (PDP), and 3rd Defendant (INEC) to recognise Egwu to carry out his duties as the substantive National Vice Chairman of the PDP, South-East zone.
It further restrained Odefa from parading himself as National Vice Chairman of the party, South-East.
