2027: Analysts predict far-reaching implications as PDP lastly loses grip of South-East

Political pundits have mentioned the Peoples Democratic Get together might discover it very tough to to rebounce to political limelight following the full lack of its strongest stronghold – South-East.
The Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah of the PDP, is ready to leap ship to the ruling All Progressives Congress on Tuesday, tomorrow.
The newly sworn in state caretaker committee chairman of the APC within the state, Ben Nwoye, disclosed this final Friday in Abuja.
The APC had dissolved the present executives within the state final Thursday and arrange a caretaker committee following the deliberate defection of Governor Mbah to its fold.
Mbah is predicted to hitch the ruling get together alongside elected nationwide and state legislators, members of the state government and get together leaders from ward and native authorities ranges throughout the state.
Nwoye mentioned, “I’m comfortable to announce to you that as at yesterday (final Thursday), in the midst of our dialogue, political evangelism has began.
“We took it to the governor and he has promised and agreed to be a part of us, to maneuver this get together and make sure that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu involves Enugu State.
“For the previous 10 years, Enugu State has remained in opposition. However all that may change on Tuesday, the 14th of October, 2024 when the governor shall be declaring for the APC.
“And the governor shouldn’t be coming alone. The governor is coming in with 260 ward councillors. They are going to be declaring with the governor. He shall be coming in with the 24 members of Home of Meeting.
“He shall be coming in with members of the Nationwide Meeting. He may also be coming with all the get together government members within the state. For the Nigerian venture to work, the Igbo, the South should transfer ahead.”
A supply near the Enugu State governor confirmed the chance of Mbah leaving the PDP to however didn’t state when.
Inside sources mentioned that among the many causes for Mbah’s deliberate defection was because of the alleged failure of the PDP to ratify Sunday Udeh-Okoye as South-East’s alternative to finish the remaining tenure of Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who had received the get together’s ticket and flew the get together’s flag within the November 2023 Imo governorship election, which had pitted the get together and its South-East causes.
Recall that of their communique after the South-East Zonal Govt Committee assembly at Authorities Home, Enugu on Could 14, the South- East PDP warned that it was fed up and may depart the get together if it did not ratify Udeh-Okoye because the nationwide secretary for the umpteenth time.
In addition to, the limitless disaster within the PDP can be learnt to be one other main issue fueling defections from the get together, together with the rumoured potential defection of Mbah.
These will not be one of the best of instances for the opposition PDP, particularly in one in all its strongholds, the South-East geo-political zone as its rump has been uncovered by a whirlwind blowing throughout the area. The whirlwind seems to have lastly sounded the demise knell for the get together within the South-East.
The journey to the upcoming collapse started on April 23, with the resignation of a former governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha.
The resignation of the previous Deputy Speaker of the Home of Representatives triggered the very best huge departure of PDP stalwarts ever recorded since its inception in 1998. As of the final rely, over 7,000 stalwarts of the get together resigned their membership of the get together in Imo State.
Aside from Ihedioha, different stalwarts of the PDP who left the get together, in line with a former ex-officio member of the South-East zone of the get together, Stanley Ekezie, had been former governor, Air Commodore Luke Ochulor (retd.); former deputy governor, Gerald Irona; former ministers, Charles Ugwuh and Chuka Odom; PDP Board of Trustees member, Chris Okewulonu; former member of the PDP Nationwide Govt Council, Henry Ekpe; former members of Home of Representatives, ThankGod Ezeani, Mayor Eze, Uche Onyeagucha, Ugonna Ozurigbo, Obinna Onwubuariri, and Jonas Okeke; Chairman and Secretary of PDP Elders Committee, Prof Jude Njoku and Prof Obioma Iheduru, respectively.
Amongst those that resigned are members of the South-East Zonal Govt Committee, Chief Ekezie, and Chief Augustine Elochukwu; two senatorial candidates of the get together within the 2023 common election, together with Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu; 4 Home of Representatives candidates of the get together within the final election, together with, Chibuzo Agulanna; former Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Imo State Home of Meeting, Lawman Duruji, and Okey Onyekamma, 24 former native council chairmen, and about 291 Interim Administration Committee members, who served underneath the Ihedioha administration.
Others are over 2,277 prime leaders and financiers of the get together throughout the state; 29 out of 39 members of the State Govt Committee; 13 out of 27 PDP council chairmen; 267 out of 432 PDP council officers; 243 out of 305 ward chairmen; over 3,888 ward executives of the get together.
In his resignation letter, Ihedioha mentioned that he was leaving the PDP as a result of it failed to supply credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress, failure to hold out inside reforms, constant drift from the beliefs upon which the get together was based, and the get together’s lack of ability to implement its personal guidelines and structure.
As if that was not sufficient to deliver the opposition PDP to its knees, the defection/resignation ship berthed in Abia State, the place very sturdy members of the get together resigned their membership in droves. Whereas those that resigned from the get together in Imo State had but to declare their subsequent vacation spot politically, these in Abia State made it recognized that they had been on their solution to the APC and the Labour Get together.
Distinguished PDP members who defected from the get together lately embrace former Speaker of the Abia State Home of Meeting, Chief Chinedum Orji; ex-Deputy Speaker and former presidential aspirant, Cosmos Ndukwe; ex-member of the Home of Meeting, Chief Jerry Uzosike; former commissioners, Eze Chikamnayo, and Ndukwe Adindu; former Chief of Workers, Prof Anthony Agbazuere.
Others embrace former Minority Chief, Prince Ikedi Ezekwesiri; the PDP deputy governorship candidate within the 2023 election, Jasper Uche; former government chairman of Isiala Ngwa South Native Authorities Space, Ike Anyatonwu; ex-executive chairman of Isiukwuato LG, Chima Agbaeze; former Govt Chairman of Ohafia LG, Dr Ukiwe Okorafor; and former Common Supervisor of Abia State Environmental Safety Company, Eze Okwulehie.
Not unnoticed within the defection jamboree are outstanding businessman and PDP chieftain in Abia, Chief Chris Odinaka Igwe, and the previous Nationwide President of Ibeku Youth Affiliation, Uzodinma Ugele.
Recall that Chief Igwe had dumped the PDP with over 5,000 PDP devoted for the APC, after a marathon assembly with the lawmaker representing Abia North Senatorial District, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
In the meantime, members of the chief committee of PDP Ward C in Merchandise, Bende Native Authorities Space of Abia State have collectively resigned from their positions throughout the get together. They made their choice to resign recognized in a letter addressed to the leaders of the get together in Bende Native Authorities Space, copied to the state PDP chairman and the performing Nationwide Chairman of the PDP.
Explaining that their collective choice was prompted by the disorderliness and actions throughout the nationwide management of the get together, the chairman of the PDP, Ward C, in Merchandise, Francis Okoye, added that their choice was additionally hinged on the assist for his or her chief and former presidential aspirant of the PDP, Cosmos Ndukwe.
The letter reads, “The whole government of PDP, Merchandise Ward C, had in a gathering held as we speak, April 30, 2024 on the get together secretariat, with some stakeholders of PDP Merchandise Ward C resolved as follows: “We’ve noticed with dismay the actions and disorderliness within the nationwide management of the PDP.
“We hereby declare our overt confidence and assist for our chief, Rt Hon Cosmos Ndukwe, who simply resigned his membership from the get together. We subsequently tender our resignation from the PDP in assist of our chief, Rt Hon Cosmos Ndukwe. We thank the native authorities management, state and nationwide for the chance given to us.”
To additional deplete the rank of the opposition get together within the South East, outstanding members of the opposition PDP in Ebonyi State dumped the get together for the ruling APC. The defector included a former member representing Abakaliki/Izzi Federal Constituency and former governorship aspirant within the 2023 common elections, Sylvester Ogbaga, former senator and former member of the PDP Nationwide Working Committee, Sylvanus Ngele, and different government members of the get together.
The defection ceremony happened at Abakaliki Native Authorities Space Headquarters, Nkaliki on Saturday. The 2 former PDP bigwigs; Ogbaga and Ngele famous that the key motive for dumping the PDP was that the get together was unable to supply a governor from the Izzi clan, which APC was capable of obtain, consistent with the present constitution of fairness in Ebonyi State.
They additional acknowledged that the current administration led by Francis Nwifuru, anchored on the folks’s constitution of wants, was the principle motive for becoming a member of forces with the ruling get together to deliver extra dividends of democracy to the folks of Ebonyi State.
Receiving the defectors, some vital stakeholders and members of the progressives household, together with the APC Nationwide Treasurer, Chief Matthew Uguru, the APC State Chairman, Chief Stanley Emegha, the Govt Chairman of Abakaliki LG, Stephen Nwogba, the APC Native Authorities Chairman, Paulinus Atam, former Chairman Abakaliki LG, Emmanuel Nwangele, the Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Matthew Nwobashi, amongst others, hailed the defectors on their daring steps and inspired them to go to their numerous wards to acquire their membership playing cards.
Recall that some extremely positioned members of the PDP in Abakaliki Native Authorities Space, together with the member representing the folks of Abakaliki North within the Ebonyi State Home of Meeting, Victor Nwoke, had been acquired into the APC household on twenty ninth April 2024, in the course of the go to of the governor’s spouse, Mrs Mary-Maudlin Nwifuru.
Analysts have described the developments as strategic realignments with far-reaching implications on the 2027 common elections, pointing to strikes to make President Bola Tinubu winner of the 2027 presidential ballot with landslide.
Gideon Adegbite, a political analyst, mentioned with Mbah’s anticipated exit from PDP, the get together has already been defeated within the zone forward of the 2027 presidential election.
“Governor has remained the one rallying level for the PDP in South-East and now that he’s making ready to take a bow, APC will take cost. For those who ask me, the PDP is useless in Igbo land and 2027 is the burial date,” he argued.
The PDP can be drifting within the South-South. Recall that in April this yr, Delta State governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, dumped the PDP for the APC.
He defected alongside a former governor of the state and ex-vice presidential candidate of the PDP, Ifeanyi Okowa, Speaker of the state Home of Meeting, state get together chairman, all of the native authorities chairmen and lots of others.
Additionally in June, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State dumped the PDP for the APC, alongside his cupboard members and lawmakers.
Talking whereas inaugurating the caretaker committee, the APC nationwide chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, mentioned the get together was working in direction of successful the 2027 common elections in any respect ranges.
“We wish to make sure that now we have overwhelming success and outing in 2027. The Renewed Hope Agenda has achieved a lot. We’re the foot troopers of the Renew Hope Agenda. Put it on the market, promote it.
“Do effectively as a authorities. Encourage your get together and your governor to make sure that the Renewed Hope Agenda unveils initiatives, social welfare of the folks, social safety to make sure that now we have a motive to return to the grassroots and win the elections in 2027.
“You have to coordinate the get together to make sure that there isn’t any division. You’re introduced in as unifiers. You’re the unifiers we introduced you to be,” he mentioned.
In the meantime, the PDP, whereas reacting to the deliberate defection of Mbah to the PC, accused the ruling get together of deploying intimidation, harassment and coercion in wooing its governors and legislators.
On the defection plan by Mbah and the rumoured defection of the Bayelsa State governor, Douye Diri, the nationwide publicity secretary of the get together mentioned the APC was not solely utilizing intimidation and harassment however inducing members with cash.
He, nonetheless, warned that no quantity of defections would decide the end result of the 2027 common elections, including that Nigerians who’re feeling the warmth of the insurance policies will not be defecting to any get together.
The PDP spokesman, who additionally spoke on the approaching nationwide conference of the get together, mentioned the get together was not nervous as a result of the defections occurring weren’t based mostly on precept, including, “There are induced by coercion, intimidation and harassment; and that has been the coverage of the APC.
Additionally remarking on the event, the Chairman PDP Governors Discussion board, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, declared that neither political defections nor any exterior power can cease the forthcoming Nationwide Conference of the PDP slated to carry in Ibadan, Oyo State between November 15 and 16.
Talking in the course of the inauguration of the PDP Nationwide Conference Publicity and Communication Sub Committee on Saturday in Abuja, the governor reaffirmed the get together’s readiness to go forward with the conference as deliberate, insisting that the PDP stays united, resilient, and decided to emerge stronger forward of the 2027 common elections.
Following months of inside turmoil, the PDP, throughout its a hundred and first Nationwide Govt Committee assembly held on July 24, resolved to reform and strengthen the get together by organising a Nationwide Elective Conference in Ibadan, the place 19 new members of the Nationwide Working Committee are anticipated to be elected.
Nonetheless, loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have voiced discontent with the Umar Damagum-led NWC over issues regarding the South-South zonal management, in addition to get together buildings in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Plateau States, together with the conference’s micro-zoning association.
The minister’s group warned that the conference may very well be jeopardised if the get together fails to revisit its present stance.
Amid these developments, there are ongoing strikes by Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, and Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress forward of the November conference.
Sharing his ideas on these developments, the Bauchi State Governor urged get together leaders to step up efforts to redefine the narrative, stressing that each get together members and Nigerians basically have been enduring widespread hardship.
He acknowledged, “We’ve to actually change the narrative. It is a get together to be. We’ve been struggling rather a lot as a celebration.
However now we have been withering the storm, and we are going to proceed to wither the storm. This conference is right here to remain. We’re going to Ibadan by the grace of God.
“By the grace of God, no Jupiter will cease us. No darkish forces will succeed over us. The darkish forces, in the event that they succeed over PDP, they’ve succeeded over Nigeria.
“We’ve to alter governance. We’ve to alter the model of this nation, and that is the start. That is the time to do it. We’ve by no means suffered as a rustic as we’re struggling as we speak underneath the APC.
You’ve seen what is going on. We don’t have to enter deep melancholy and be crying as whipping boys or ladies.
“We’ve to do one thing throughout the democratic house to alter the chief, to alter the nation. I used to be listening to at least one music after I got here in; it was enumerating a number of the achievements of the PDP.
“Since we left workplace, no person took over. It was as if there was a vacuum a void by way of supply of democratic dividends.”
He appealed to members of the committee to place in devoted effort towards enlightening and sensitising Nigerians.
Bauchi Governor acknowledged, “We’re going to do it by the grace of God. And seeing the human capital right here, I do know our job is made straightforward as a result of you’ll be able to ship.
“We’re assured. Please, be emboldened. Don’t be disturbed by the defections, by the shenanigans, by all these doubting Thomases. Don’t be disturbed.
“Sure, try to be inspired as a result of staying again to struggle is what makes a person or a lady. It’s not an act of cowardice to go away due to one or two folks. You’re women and men of energy and integrity.”
In the meantime, APC Caretaker Committee chairman in Enugu State, Ben Nwoye, has described Mbah’s deliberate defection to the APC as a defining political second for the South-East, saying it should “change the Igbo story” in Nigeria.
Talking on Saturday on the Akanu Ibiam Worldwide Airport, Enugu, the place he was acquired by jubilant get together supporters, Nwoye mentioned all the political construction of Enugu State would formally be a part of the APC on Tuesday, October 14, in what he termed a “historic alignment between transformation and renewed hope.”
Nwoye, who wore a cap inscribed “PNM” (Peter Ndubisi Mbah), mentioned Mbah’s transfer to the APC would mark the top of Enugu’s decade-long keep within the opposition and usher in a brand new part of political inclusion and nationwide relevance for the Southeast.
“For the previous 10 years, Enugu State has remained in opposition. However all that ends on Tuesday when Governor Peter Mbah declares for the APC. And he’s not coming alone,” he mentioned.
In response to him, the defection will contain the governor, his appointees, 260 councillors, 24 state lawmakers, members of the Nationwide Meeting, and all the State Govt Council.
“The place Enugu goes, the Southeast goes. This marks the start of the Southeast’s political reawakening and full integration into nationwide politics,” he added.
Nwoye, who was sworn in as caretaker chairman on the APC Nationwide Secretariat in Abuja on Friday, recommended Mbah’s efficiency over the previous two years, describing him as an emblem of innovation and transformational management.
“Prior to now, the Southeast had been unnoticed of the principle protocols of governance. However with Mbah’s entry into the APC, the Igbo story will change for the higher. Peter Mbah shouldn’t be becoming a member of the APC for himself however for his folks,” he mentioned.
Highlighting the governor’s achievements, Nwoye famous that Enugu State had grow to be a mannequin of innovation and effectivity.
“We’re not speaking about simply paving roads. We’re speaking about disruptive innovation—from coding initiatives to trendy governance techniques—all inside two years. If he might obtain that as an opposition governor, think about what he might do as a progressive,” he acknowledged.
He assured that underneath the brand new political alignment, federal appointments for Enugu folks would now originate from throughout the state fairly than by way of exterior influences.
“Once we say Enugu must be linked to the centre, that is what it actually means,” he declared.
Nwoye expressed confidence that the synergy between Mbah’s Transformation Agenda and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s
Renewed Hope Imaginative and prescient would fast-track growth and {economic} progress throughout the Southeast.
“Enugu is now linked,” he concluded.