Ali, others must go now ––S’East PDP
By Musikilu Mojeed
Published: Sunday, 10 Jun 2007

There were indications in Abuja on Saturday that the South-East caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party had started pushing for the resignation of the Dr. Ahmadu Ali-led National Working Committee of the party.


At a meeting attended by governors, party chairmen and members of the National Assembly from the five South-Eastern states in Abuja on Friday, it was reportedly decided that the caucus should make a representation to President Umaru Yar‘Adua on the matter.

A top party official from the South-East, who informed our correspondent of the meeting on Saturday, said participants at the parley, held at the Bolingo Hotel and Towers, expressed concern that Ali had remained in office even when the party’s chairmanship position had been zoned to the South-East.

He said it was resolved that the zone should demand the resignation of the Ali-led leadership so a politician of South-East extraction could assume the number one party position in line with the prevailing zoning formula.

The source said, ”We all felt at the meeting that the South-East was being shortchanged. All other zones have rightfully assumed the offices zoned to them.

”But Ali has continued to enjoy the slot meant for the South-East. Yet a man from his zone, the North-Central, has been elected Senate President.”

The ruling party is yet to announce the date for a convention for the election of new party executives that will comply with the new zoning formula. There were, however, indications that Ali and his colleagues might remain in office till November.

But the source said the South-East would have none of that. He said the zone would demand that a politician from the South-East be allowed to act as party chairman pending the election of new party leaders.

He said it would be an injustice to the South-East for Ali to be allowed to remain in office ”at a time the party would be considering nominees for ministerial, board and ambassadorial appointments.

”We wanted the speakership of the House of Representatives. We were not given; instead the position of party chairman was allocated to us. We accepted it in good faith but now, they do not want us to assume the position. They are reluctant to ask Ali to quit. I can assure you that we won‘t accept that,” he said.

The party‘s National Vice-Chairman, South-East, Chief Fidelis Ozichukwu-Chukwu, could not be reached for comments on the development as repeated calls made to him indicated that his phones were switched off.

Ali could also not be reached, but the party‘s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. John Odey, said the South-East should be patient as the matter was being sorted out.

Odey added, ”The South-East should be patient with the party. The leader of the party and the national caucus will decide on what to do. I can assure you that no zone will be marginalized in this party. Every zone will get what it deserves.

”Our party is undergoing tremendous transformation and nobody should do anything that will set members against one another. The leadership will remain sensitive to the yearnings of members and all issues will continued to be resolved amicably.”