PDP Crisis Deepens As Enugu West Rejects Senatorial Candidate

Stakeholders from Enugu West within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State have rejected the emergence of Hon. Dennis Amadi as the senatorial candidate. They are also calling for the immediate reinstatement of the state chairmanship to their zone, in a fresh wave of crisis rocking the party.

The resolutions were reached at a stakeholders’ meeting held on Sunday at 9th Mile, Enugu, where party leaders accused the PDP leadership of violating its longstanding zoning arrangement and breaching internal democratic processes ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The meeting was attended by party elders, former and serving political office holders, women and youth leaders, executive committee members and other stakeholders.

In a communiqué jointly signed by the Enugu West PDP Zonal Chairman, Rt. Hon. Charles Martins Emenike; Zonal Secretary, Mbah Ugochukwu; State Auditor and Political Leader of Enugu West, Ozo Dr. Okey Ozoani; and State Treasurer, Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Onyia, the stakeholders said their decisions were aimed at safeguarding the party’s constitution and restoring confidence among members.

The stakeholders insisted that, based on the PDP’s established zoning and rotational arrangement in Enugu State, the office of the state chairman should revert to Enugu West Senatorial Zone.

They argued that the continued occupation of the office by Enugu North Senatorial Zone undermines the party’s principles of fairness, equity 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 Enugu West Senatorial Zone,” the communiqué stated.

According to the stakeholders, retaining the position outside the zone represents “a clear departure from the party’s established zoning and rotational principle” and could weaken confidence in the PDP’s commitment to justice and internal equity.

They consequently called on the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to immediately restore the state chairmanship to Enugu West in the interest of unity and stability.

The meeting also rejected the emergence of Hon. Dennis Amadi as the PDP’s senatorial candidate for Enugu West, maintaining that no valid primary election was conducted to produce him.

According to the communiqué, the stakeholders reviewed the circumstances surrounding Amadi’s emergence and concluded that no recognised PDP senatorial primary took place in the zone.

“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 communiqué stated.

They further alleged that Amadi did not emerge through any primary election conducted or recognised by the party structure in Enugu West and urged the NWC to review the entire nomination process and nullify what they described as his purported candidacy.

The stakeholders also condemned the suspension of Dr. Nick Ozonsi, describing it as unconstitutional, politically motivated and inconsistent with the provisions of the PDP Constitution.

They alleged that the suspension, which occurred shortly before the senatorial nomination process, was intended to frustrate the collective will of party members in the zone and was carried out without the knowledge or approval of the ward, local government and zonal leadership of the party.

While expressing reservations over the conduct of some of the party’s primary elections, the stakeholders endorsed the emergence of Hon. Arinze Onyianta as the PDP candidate for Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency, Hon. Ebube Nebo for Ezeagu State Constituency and Dr. Chidi Orjiudeche for Awgu South State Constituency.

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

The stakeholders also urged the PDP National Working Committee to protect Onyianta’s mandate, insisting that his primary election was duly monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

They equally raised concerns over the activities of Mr. Charles Ndukwe, alleging that despite participating in another political party’s primary election, he had continued to present himself as the PDP candidate for Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency.

According to them, Ndukwe is not a registered member of the PDP, and they called on the party leadership to safeguard the integrity of its nomination process.

The communiqué further expressed concern over what the stakeholders described as the exclusion of prominent party leaders and longstanding members from the political and campaign activities of the PDP governorship candidate, Chief Uche Nnaji.

They urged the governorship candidate to embrace all genuine stakeholders across Enugu West in order to strengthen party unity and improve its electoral prospects.

The meeting also lamented that Enugu West remains the only senatorial zone in the state without representation on the PDP Board of Trustees despite what it described as the zone’s significant contributions to the party’s growth.

The stakeholders appealed to the party’s national leadership to appoint a qualified member from the zone to address what they called an imbalance.

The meeting concluded by passing a vote of confidence in the Enugu West PDP Zonal Chairman, Rt. Hon. Charles Martins Emenike, praising his leadership and commitment to internal democracy.

It also reaffirmed Ozo Dr. Okey Ozoani as the recognised political leader of Enugu West Senatorial Zone, pledging continued support for his efforts to promote unity, reconciliation and justice within the party.