The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State has nominated Chidiebere Egwu, the party’s zonal youth leader, as the new Southeast national vice chairman, following the expulsion of Ali Odefa for alleged anti-party activities.

The party made the announcement in a letter to the acting national chairman, Alhaji Illiya Damagun, and the chairman of the Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara.

The nomination of Mr. Egwu was based on Odefa’s expulsion, which followed a Federal High Court ruling in Abakaliki that upheld the suspension of Odefa by the PDP ward executives of Oguduokwor Ward in Onicha LGA.

The ward disciplinary committee, after investigating the allegations against Odefa, recommended his expulsion, which was formally announced on December 12, 2024.

PDP leaders in Ebonyi State have unanimously supported the replacement of Odefa with Chidiebere Egwu.

The endorsement was signed by key party figures, including Chief Onwe S. Onwe, former Acting National Secretary; Senator Paulinus Igwe Nwagu, the 2023 Deputy Governorship Candidate; John Igboke, former Deputy National Youth Leader; Paul Okorie, former governorship aspirant; and Austin Edeze, former governorship aspirant and Director-General of the 2023 PDP Governorship Campaign Council, along with other PDP candidates from the 2023 general elections.

The nomination letter has been submitted to the Acting National Chairman, National Secretary, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, and other top party officials.

A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has annulled the ward, local government, and state congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) conducted in 2024.

Justice Stephen Jumbo issued an interlocutory injunction on Monday, preventing those elected from these congresses from acting as officers of the PDP in the state.

The court’s decision followed a suit filed by two Port Harcourt-based lawyers, Edwin Woko and Love Otuonye, along with two other PDP members.

The case was brought against the PDP National Chairman, the State Chairman, Aaron Chukwuemeka, and nine others.

The applicants argued that the congresses, held on July 27, August 10, and August 31, 2024, were conducted in violation of a court order issued on July 16, 2024, which had barred the PDP and its agents from organizing any congresses until the matter was resolved.

The claimants contended that the congresses were held in “flagrant disobedience” of this injunction and sought the annulment of the congresses held in 319 wards, 23 local government areas, and the state.

The applicants also asked the court to declare themselves as the legitimate members of the PDP state executive committee and to prevent the respondents from acting or presenting themselves as the state executives of the party.

After hearing both sides, Justice Jumbo ruled in favor of the applicants, nullifying the congresses and issuing an injunction barring Chukwuemeka and the other respondents from holding office as PDP executives in the state.

The court also declared the applicants as the authentic and current members of the Rivers State executive committee of the PDP, ordering the national leadership of the party to recognize them accordingly.

The Edo State Governorship Election Tribunal has adjourned the hearing of all seven petitions until Wednesday, January 15, 2025.

The decision to adjourn was made after the counsel for the 1st and 2nd respondents, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Monday Okpebholo, requested a postponement due to a scheduling conflict with a case at the Supreme Court.

During the tribunal’s sitting in Benin City, all parties and their legal representatives were present, and the court granted the necessary appearances.

The tribunal explained that the request for adjournment was based on the fact that the 2nd respondent’s counsel had a case at the Supreme Court on January 14, 2025, and the parties had been notified via email and WhatsApp.

In response, the counsel for the petitioners acknowledged receiving the adjournment letter but expressed concerns over the late submission and the absence of supporting documents, particularly the hearing notice for the Supreme Court case.

Despite these concerns, the petitioners’ legal team agreed to the adjournment, stating they were prepared to proceed on January 14, 2025, but would accept the delay in the interest of fairness and cooperation.

They insisted that no further adjournments be requested by the respondents.

The tribunal granted the adjournment, and the hearing will now take place on January 15, 2025.

The petitions before the tribunal include cases filed by political parties such as the Accord Party, PDP, Alliance Party, SDP, Allied Peoples Movement, ADP, and Zenith Labour Party, all challenging the results of the Edo governorship election.

The respondents in all these cases are INEC, Okpebholo, and the APC.

Mudashiru Obasa, the former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, was impeached on Monday while he was in Atlanta, United States, following an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of financial impropriety.

According to sources, the impeachment came just days after reports surfaced about Obasa’s involvement in controversial financial transactions, including the approval of N43.5 billion for the purchase of backup vehicles for lawmakers.

The EFCC had reportedly summoned Obasa for questioning after media investigations revealed a series of financial misconducts during his tenure, including diverting public funds to personal businesses and bank accounts.

The impeachment process was initiated by lawmakers who accused Obasa of mismanagement of state resources and other statutory breaches.

Following his removal, Obasa’s deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was swiftly elected as the new Speaker, making history as the first female to hold the position in the Lagos Assembly.

Meranda represents Apapa I state constituency and had previously served as the chief whip of the house.

Obasa, who had been Speaker since 2015, has faced repeated allegations of corruption and political thuggery during his time in office.

The Lagos State House of Assembly has impeached Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker and elected Mojisola Meranda, representing Apapa 1 state Constituency, as his successor.

Meranda, who immediately took the oath of office, has made history as the first female Speaker of the Assembly.

Obasa, 52, had served as Speaker since 2015, overseeing the legislative affairs of the state for nearly a decade before his removal.