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Kingsley Joshua
The crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State has taken another dimension as stakeholders from the West Senatorial Zone in the state have rejected the emergence of Hon. Dennis Amadi as the party’s senatorial candidate.
The stakeholders on Sunday demanded the immediate return of the office of the state chairman to the zone in line with the party’s zoning arrangement.
Their demands contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a stakeholders’ meeting held on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at 9th Mile, Enugu and attended by party leaders, elders, former and serving political office holders, women and youth leaders, executive committee members, among others.
The communiqué was jointly signed by Rt. Hon. Charles Martins Emenike, Zonal Chairman, Enugu West PDP; Mbah Ugochukwu, Zonal Secretary; Ozo Dr. Okey Ozoani, State Auditor and Political Leader of Enugu West Senatorial Zone; and Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Onyia, State Treasurer.
The stakeholders said the meeting reflected the collective determination of party members to strengthen the PDP, protect its constitution and preserve its democratic ideals ahead of the 2027 elections.
The stakeholders reaffirmed that, in line with the PDP’s long-established zoning and rotational arrangement in Enugu State, the office of the State Chairman rightly belongs to Enugu West Senatorial Zone.
According to them, the continued occupation of the office by the Enugu North Senatorial Zone runs contrary to the party’s tradition of equity, fairness and balanced representation.
“The meeting reaffirmed that, in accordance with the long-established zoning and rotational arrangement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, the office of the State Chairman is due to the Enugu West Senatorial Zone.”
The communiqué added that the continued retention of the office outside the zone “represents a clear departure from the party’s established zoning and rotational principle and is capable of undermining confidence in the party’s longstanding commitment to justice, equity and balanced representation.”
The stakeholders consequently called on the National Working Committee (NWC) and other relevant organs of the party to “without further delay, restore the office of the State Chairman to Enugu West Senatorial Zone in faithful compliance with the party’s established zoning arrangement and in the overriding interest of unity, fairness and the continued stability of the party in Enugu State.”
The meeting also rejected the emergence of Hon. Dennis Amadi as the PDP senatorial candidate for Enugu West Senatorial Zone, insisting that no valid primary election was conducted to produce him.
“The meeting thoroughly reviewed the circumstances surrounding the emergence of Hon. Dennis Amadi as the PDP Senatorial Candidate for Enugu West Senatorial Zone and assert that no PDP Senatorial Primary Election was conducted in Enugu West Senatorial Zone from which any candidate could legitimately emerge.”
The stakeholders maintained that Amadi “did not emerge through any PDP Senatorial Primary Election conducted, recognized or participated in by the established party structure in Enugu West Senatorial Zone.”
Consequently, they rejected what they described as his purported nomination and urged the party’s national leadership to nullify it.
“The meeting called on the National Working Committee to immediately review the entire senatorial nomination process for Enugu West Senatorial Zone and nullify the purported listing of Hon. Dennis Amadi as the PDP Senatorial Candidate for Enugu West Senatorial Zone, having found that the purported nomination was not founded on any primary election conducted in Enugu West Senatorial Zone in accordance with the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party and its Electoral Guidelines.”
The stakeholders also condemned the suspension of Dr. Nick Ozonsi, describing the action as unconstitutional and politically motivated.
According to the communiqué, the suspension occurred shortly before the senatorial nomination process and was intended to frustrate the collective will of party members in the zone.
They argued that the action “was effected without compliance with the due process prescribed by the PDP Constitution and without the knowledge or approval of the Ward, Local Government and Enugu West Zonal leadership of the party.”
While expressing dissatisfaction with the conduct of several primary elections in Enugu West, the stakeholders, however, endorsed the emergence of Hon. Arinze Onyianta for Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency, Hon. Ebube Nebo for Ezeagu State Constituency and Dr. Chidi Orjiudeche for Awgu South State Constituency.
They described their victories as products of transparent, credible and democratic processes and reaffirmed their support for the three candidates.
The meeting further urged the PDP National Working Committee to protect the mandate of Hon. Arinze Onyianta, insisting that he emerged through a primary election monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The stakeholders also raised concerns over the activities of Mr. Charles Ndukwe, alleging that despite participating in another political party’s primary election, he was parading himself as the PDP candidate for Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency.
They maintained that Ndukwe is not a registered member of the PDP and urged the party’s leadership to safeguard the integrity of its nomination process.
The communiqué equally expressed concern over what it described as the exclusion of key stakeholders and longstanding party members in Enugu West from the political and campaign activities of the party’s governorship candidate, Chief Uche Nnaji.
They urged the governorship candidate to embrace all genuine stakeholders in the zone and build a united front capable of delivering victory for the party.
The meeting lamented that Enugu West remains the only senatorial zone in Enugu State without representation on the PDP Board of Trustees despite what it described as the zone’s enormous contributions to the growth and stability of the party.
The stakeholders appealed to the party’s national leadership to immediately appoint a qualified member from the zone to correct the imbalance.
The stakeholders unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the Enugu West PDP Zonal Chairman, Rt. Hon. Charles Martins Emenike, commending what they described as his exemplary leadership, courage and commitment to internal democracy and the party’s constitutional principles.
They also unanimously reaffirmed Ozo Dr. Okey Ozoani as the recognised Political Leader of Enugu West Senatorial Zone, pledging continued loyalty and support to his leadership in promoting unity, reconciliation and justice within the party.
