NWC-backed Enugu PDP chairman assumes duties in Ekweremadu’s house

The crisis in the Enugu State Peoples Democratic Party deepened on Saturday as Elder David Ajah, who was endorsed by the National Working Committee as acting chairman, assumed official duties in the Enugu residence of Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

Although the NWC had directed that Ajah, the deputy chairman before the resignation of the former chairman, Engr. Vita Abba, should take charge of the party, the State Executive Committee is insisting that Chief Ikeje Asogwa, who it appointed to replace Abba, is the chairman of the PDP in Enugu State.

The SEC, at an extra-ordinary meeting attended by Governor Sullivan Chime on Friday, defied the NWC directive and gave Asogwa the mandate “to take all necessary measures in his capacity as the chairman to oversee and ensure smooth and successful congresses and party primaries and victory for the Party at all levels in the 2015 general elections.”

However, barely 24 hours later, Ajah, shortly after reinstating the suspended party chairman in Udi Local Government Area, Uche Ogbodo, – his first official function – declared Thursday’s meeting attended by Chime and other members of the SEC as null and void.

According to him, going by the party’s rules, he is the one authorized to convene the meeting of the SEC.

“The meeting held yesterday at the state party secretariat is null and void.

“It is illegal because I did not direct anybody to attend such meeting. Just take it that nothing happened,” he told journalists.

Cheered on by his supporters, Ajah read out letters written to him by the PDP NWC, which empowered him to assume duties.

After reading the letters, Ajah said, “I should now be addressed as acting chairman whenever anybody wants to talk to me.”

It is expected that Ajah will, within 14 days, convene a meeting of the SEC to appoint a substantive party chairman from the zone where the resigned chairman, Abba, came from.

Two members of the National Assembly from Enugu State – Senator Ayogu Eze, and a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi – were at Ekweremadu’s residence during the event.

Eze, who is contesting the PDP governorship ticket for the 2015 elections, told journalists that Ajah is on the ground.

“Ajah is the acting chairman, he is on the ground,” he said, adding that the national leadership of the party will ensure that “the right thing is done” in the state.

The state ward delegates congresses has not commenced in Enugu as at the time of filing this report, as materials are yet to arrive from Abuja.