South-South PDP Re-Elects Orbih Zonal Chairman

The South-South Zone of the Peoples Democratic Party has reelected Dan Orbih as its chairman.

The election took place in Calabar, Cross River State, on Saturday, during the party’s zonal congress.

Chairman of the electoral committee, Vita Abba, said Or­bih polled 174 votes to emerge the winner of the election.

Other officials elected in­clude Alabah Turnah, (Secre­tary), Evelyn Weke (Treasurer), Ijeoma Obani (Financial Sec­retary) and Timothy Okwoche (Organising Secretary).

Other elected officials are Iyrneri Briggs (Legal Adviser), Prince Etim Isong (Publicity Secretary), Loveday Abaribote (Auditor), Phenomena Esubok (Woman leader), and Patrick Asuquo (Youth Leader).

Speaking after the congress, the newly elected zonal chair­man, Orbih said the party’s problems are self-inflicted and promised to end impunity and imposition in the party and start the process of redevelop­ing and rebranding the party.

He said: “We will continue to do what is right for the interest and development of our party in the South South and Nigeria.

“This is a very critical mo­ment in the history of our par­ty and we are going to do all we can to end the era of impunity and imposition.

“We will also start the pro­cess of rebuilding and rebrand­ing our party. The expectations are high but we will not disap­point the party.”

He also disclosed that he was not aware of any court injunc­tion saying the party could not conduct the zonal congress.

He said they were guided by the order of the Federal High Court Abuja to conduct the Congress.

Wike Dares PDP NWC

Similarly, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dared the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Demo­cratic Party (PDP), saying there would not be another south-south zonal congress after the one held on Saturday in Cala­bar, Cross River State capital.

Wike stated this while pre­senting a goodwill message at the congress.

The minister said there had never been a congress or con­vention where every delegate participated. He charged dele­gates to elect officials who will defend and protect the party.

His words: “The South- South Zone is the strongest zone of the PDP in Nigeria. It has always been and will al­ways be. There is no part of the constitution that says congress should be postponed because of a wedding or travelling.

“There has never been a congress where every delegate was present. The constitution did not say the National Work­ing Committee should conduct a congress but the zone.

“I want to assure you that this is the final zonal congress of the South-South Zone, after the election today, no other zon­al congress will hold.”

PDP Rejects Calabar Con­gress

Regardless, the party has dismissed the congress held in Calabar, Cross River State through a statement on Sat­urday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Olo­gunagba.

In the statement, Ologunag­ba said: “The attention of the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a reported social gathering in Calabar, Cross River State, where the organisers falsely claimed same to be the South- South Zonal Congress of the PDP.

“To the contrary, the PDP states in clear terms that it has not conducted its South- South Zonal Congress neither is it in any way involved in the said gathering in Calabar”, the statement partly read.

He further explained that the party had officially post­poned the congress to allow for broader consultations.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the NWC at its meeting on Thursday, February 20, 2025, in the exercise of its powers under Section 29 (2)(b), pursu­ant to Section 31 (2) (c) and (j) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017), postponed the conduct of the South-South Zonal Congress from the earli­er scheduled date of Saturday, February 22, 2025, so as to al­low for further consultation on critical issues relating to the smooth conduct of the Con­gress in the Zone.

“For clarity, while Section 29 (2)(b) of the PDP Constitution empowers the NWC to ‘in case of emergency, act on behalf of the National Executive Com­mittee subject to the ratifica­tion of the National Executive Committee,’ Section 31(2)(c) expressly provides that the Na­tional Executive Committee shall ‘supervise and direct the work of the Party and all its organs including the National, Zonal, State and Local Govern­ment organs.’

“In the same vein, Section 31(2)(j) empowers the Nation­al Executive Committee ‘…to make Party electoral regula­tions to govern the conduct of elections to all Party offices at every level and regulate pro­cedures for selecting the Party candidates for elective offices’”, the statement further stated.

Reiterating its stance, the party urged members and stakeholders to disregard any event claiming to be its zonal congress.

“For emphasis, therefore, the PDP states that it has not conducted its South-South Zonal Congress and it has yet to communicate a date for the exercise.

“The PDP calls on all party members in the South South Zone, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Security Agencies, and the Media to disregard any gath­ering or outcome of any such gathering in Calabar, Cross River State purported to be the South-South Zonal Congress of the PDP.

“Our party will in due course and through its official channels communicate a new date for the conduct of the South-South Zonal Congress,” it added.