A new crisis rocks the PDP as Enugu West demands state presidency

A A new wave of crisis is rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State as stakeholders in Enugu West Senatorial Zone have rejected the emergence of Hon. Dennis Amadi as the party’s senatorial candidate.

The stakeholders also called for the immediate return of the office of the state president to the zone, in line with the party’s zoning agreement.

These were the resolutions contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a stakeholders meeting held on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at 9th Mile, Enugu, attended by party leaders, elders, former and serving political office holders, women and youth leaders, executive committee members, among others.

The statement 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 the Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Onyia, State Treasurer.

Stakeholders said the meeting reflects 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 long-established zoning and rotation arrangement of the PDP in Enugu State, the office of the State President rightly belongs to the Enugu West Senatorial Zone.

According to them, the continued occupation of the office by the Enugu North senatorial zone is against the party’s tradition of fairness, fairness and balanced representation.

“The meeting reaffirmed that in accordance with the consolidated zoning and rotation arrangement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, the position of State Chairman falls to the Enugu West Senatorial Zone.”

The statement adds that keeping the position out of the zone “represents a clear departure from the party’s established zoning and rotation principle and is likely to undermine confidence in the party’s long-standing commitment to justice, fairness and balanced representation.”

The stakeholders have therefore called on the National Working Committee (NWC) and other relevant bodies of the party to “restore without further delay the office of the State Chairman in Enugu West Senatorial Zone in faithful compliance with the zoning agreement established by the party and in the paramount interest of the unity, equity and 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 elections were conducted to produce him.

“The meeting carefully examined the circumstances surrounding the emergence of Hon Dennis Amadi as PDP senatorial candidate for Enugu West senatorial zone and affirmed that no PDP senatorial primary election has been conducted in Enugu West senatorial zone from which any candidate could legitimately emerge.”

The stakeholders argued that Amadi “did not emerge through any PDP senatorial primary election conducted, recognized or participated in by the party structure established in Enugu West senatorial zone.”

As a result, they rejected what they described as his purported nomination and urged the party’s national leadership to cancel it.

“The meeting called on the National Working Committee to immediately review the entire senatorial nomination process for Enugu West Senatorial Zone and cancel 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 based on any primary election conducted in Enugu West Senatorial Zone in accordance with the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party and its electoral guidelines.”

Stakeholders also condemned the suspension of Dr. Nick Ozonsi, calling the action unconstitutional and politically motivated.

According to the statement, the suspension occurred shortly before the senatorial nomination process and was intended to frustrate the collective will of party members in the area.

They alleged that the action “was carried out without observance of due process prescribed by the PDP Constitution and without the knowledge or approval of the district, local government and party leadership of Enugu West Zonal.”

While expressing dissatisfaction with the conduct of several primary elections in Enugu West, 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 Southern State Constituency.

They described their victories as the product of transparent, credible and democratic processes and reaffirmed their support for the three candidates.

The meeting also urged the PDP National Working Committee to protect the mandate of the Hon. Arinze Onyianta, insisting that it emerged through primary elections monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Stakeholders also expressed concern about Mr.’s activities. Charles Ndukwe, claiming that despite contesting the primaries of another political party, he was contesting as the PDP candidate for Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency.

They argued that Ndukwe is not a registered member of the PDP and urged the party leadership to safeguard the integrity of its nomination process.

The statement equally expressed concern over what it described as the exclusion of key stakeholders and long-standing members of the party in Enugu West from the political and electoral activities of the party’s governorship candidate, Chief Uche Nnaji.

They urged the governorship candidate to embrace all the genuine stakeholders of the area and build a united front that can ensure the party’s victory.

The meeting lamented that Enugu West remains the only senatorial zone in Enugu State without representation in the PDP board despite what it described as the zone’s enormous contribution to the growth and stability of the party.

Stakeholders have appealed to the party’s national leadership to immediately appoint a qualified member from the zone to correct the imbalance.

Stakeholders have 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 constitutional principles of the party.

They also unanimously reaffirmed Ozo Dr. Okey Ozoani as the recognized political leader of Enugu West Senatorial Zone, pledging continued loyalty and support to his leadership in promoting unity, reconciliation and justice within the party.