The South East Zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has concluded a meeting at the Government House in Enugu, where it approved the zoning of national and zonal offices allocated to the region.

During the meeting, the party reaffirmed its unwavering support for Hon. S.K.E. Udeh-Okoye as the National Secretary of the PDP.

The South East PDP declared itself a united force, emphasizing its ability to address any internal issues within the party.

It also issued a warning to external parties attempting to interfere with the region’s affairs, urging them to refrain from destabilizing the party in the South East.

The resolutions were announced in a communique read by Chief Ali Odefa, at the conclusion of the Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) meeting held on Friday, January 24, 2025.

The meeting was attended by notable party leaders, including Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, who is also the leader of the party in the region; former President of the Senate, Senator Adolphus Wabara; Senate Minority Whip, Senator Osita Ngwu; members of the National Assembly, and former governors and ministers.

The communique highlighted the PDP’s historical dominance in the South East, noting a time when the party held all five gubernatorial seats in the region, as well as a significant majority in the State Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly.

The meeting focused on strategies to restore the party’s influence in the region and across the country.

The party also addressed internal issues affecting the national body, particularly efforts to undermine the South East zone’s jurisdiction.

Additionally, the communique tackled the controversy surrounding the position of National Secretary of the PDP, which is zoned to the South East.

In line with its commitment to inclusivity, the ZEC discussed the zoning of various national and zonal offices within the party.

The communique concluded with several key resolutions:

1. The South East PDP is united and capable of resolving any internal disputes.
2. Any attempts to create division or unrest within the party in the region are condemned.
3. The party commended the Court of Appeal ruling that affirmed Hon. S.K.E. Udeh-Okoye as the National Secretary, reiterating its full support for him in line with the PDP’s constitution and the South East ZEC’s stance.
4. The South East PDP trusts the judiciary to continue delivering justice on related matters.

The meeting also officially adopted the zoning of national and zonal offices within the party in the region.

Mudashiru Obasa, the impeached Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has strongly denied the corruption allegations leveled against him, calling them “fictitious and unsubstantiated.”

Addressing his supporters during a welcome rally at his residence in GRA, Ikeja on Saturday, Obasa asserted that he had no fear of being removed but emphasized that the process of his impeachment had not followed due procedure.

The former speaker alleged that his impeachment was orchestrated during his absence, accusing the state’s Commissioner of Police of being complicit in the plot.

Obasa claimed that security agents, led by the police commissioner, raided the assembly complex and his homes in Agege and Ikeja, locking his family inside with over 200 officers present.

He dismissed the allegations of financial mismanagement, including a claim that a gate construction had cost N16 billion, sarcastically questioning, “Is it the wall of Jericho?”

Obasa, who has represented his constituency six times, stressed, “I am not afraid of being removed; after all, this is not my father’s chieftaincy title. I am here to represent my people. If anyone wants to take action, they should do it properly.”

He further claimed that his removal was executed unfairly while he was abroad, pointing to previous removals of speakers, such as that of Rt. Hon. Jokotola Pelumi, who was removed while present in the assembly without the involvement of the police.

Obasa stated that an innocent person should not be discredited without concrete evidence to support the allegations.

He emphasized the need for accountability, stating, “The Lagos State House of Assembly is above the common standard of excellence.”

The former speaker also expressed his gratitude to the Governance Advisory Council and Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, calling him his brother and praising the governor’s continued support.

Obasa was impeached on January 13 by more than two-thirds of the 40-member legislative house due to allegations of misconduct and other offenses.

His deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was immediately elected as the new speaker, making her the first female to lead the legislative body in the South-West state.

A Federal High Court in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has ordered Ali Odefa, the former National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southeast Zone, to pay N100 million in damages following his expulsion from the party.

The ruling was delivered on Friday, with the court also issuing an injunction preventing Odefa and the police from arresting or intimidating members of the PDP Ward Executives in Oguduokwor Ward, Onicha Local Government Area.

Odefa was expelled from the PDP on December 12, 2024, after a disciplinary committee found him guilty of engaging in activities contrary to the party’s interests.

Following his expulsion, 20 PDP members, including the Executives from Oguduokwor Ward, filed a lawsuit (Suit No: FHC/AI/CS/FHR/197) against Odefa, the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

The plaintiffs, led by Herbert Onyedikachi, Anoke Egbe, Njoku Nwagu, and others, sought legal redress for the alleged false and malicious accusations made by Odefa that led to police involvement.

Justice Hilary Oshomah ruled that Odefa had “maliciously” used the police to harass the defendants, ordering him to pay N5 million in damages to each of the plaintiffs, totaling N100 million.

Odefa was also ordered to pay N2 million in costs to the applicants.

Additionally, the court ordered that the damages be paid within seven days of the judgment, with a penalty of 10 percent interest per day for any delay in payment.

The court further restrained Odefa and the police from any form of harassment, arrest, or intimidation of the defendants regarding his suspension from the PDP.

Barrister Muhuyi Magaji, the Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, has been arrested by police detectives from the office of the Inspector General of Police, reliable sources told The Guardian on Friday.

Magaji was reportedly apprehended in his office by the detectives, who arrived at the commission’s premises with an order to arrest him.

The exact reason for his arrest remains unclear, as the police officers did not provide any explanation during the operation.

It is believed that the arrest is linked to an ongoing investigation involving the alleged diversion of N4 billion and properties belonging to the Kano Agricultural Supply Company Limited (KASCO) under the previous administration.

In a related development, the Anti-Corruption Commission had recently revealed attempts to seize assets valued at over N2 billion, including trailers, trucks, and minivans, which were connected to the former Managing Director of KASCO.

Magaji was taken to the One Police Headquarters in Kano, where reports indicate he was denied access to his legal representatives.

Police spokesperson Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa was unavailable for comment at the time of this report.