Former National Secretary aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sunday Udeh-Okoye, has accused the PDP leadership of marginalising and humiliating the South East, saying the region’s growing defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a direct result of the party’s disregard for its loyal members.
Speaking on ARISE News on Wednesday, Udeh-Okoye, who officially joined the APC a day after resigning from the PDP, said his decision was personal and rooted in the party’s consistent neglect of the South East.
“My resignation cannot pave the way for the governor. It’s my personal decision. I resigned because the PDP has been very unfair to the South East,” he said.
“The current leadership of the PDP has been particularly unfair to our zone. Every request from the South East was turned down. The party disregarded the leadership of Governor Peter Mbah, who as a sitting governor deserved recognition.”
He said the PDP had repeatedly ignored pleas from the South East zone to be treated with respect and fairness, despite the region’s historical loyalty and contribution to the party’s founding.
“Our leaders ,from the BOT chairman to former governors like Sam Egwu and former ministers like Josephine Anenih — all appealed for fairness, but the party didn’t care. Some PDP leaders even told the South East, ‘If you want to go, go,’” Udeh-Okoye stated.
“We have now joined a progressive political party that knows how to manage its members. The same way PDP once dominated Enugu State is how APC will begin to win from now.”
On claims that his defection and that of Governor Mbah were coordinated, he dismissed the idea, insisting every member acted independently.
“Each of us has our membership card. Nobody can resign for the other. I left because of the humiliation meted out to our zone,” he said.
Addressing questions about the PDP’s replacement of him with another South Easterner, Samuel Anyanwu, as National Secretary, Udeh-Okoye said the issue was not about geography but about respect for internal process.
“That position was zoned to the South East, not to an individual. When Mr. Anyanwu went to contest for governor, he should have resigned. The zone met in Enugu and unanimously nominated me to replace him. The party should have respected that decision,” he explained.
Udeh-Okoye said leaving the PDP was not easy, given his long years of loyalty, but noted that the party’s attitude made it impossible to remain.
“When I was in the PDP, every level of leadership around me — from councillor to senator — was PDP. I was loyal. But when the managers of that association turned against us and said our zone was not needed, they left us no choice,” he said.
“We warned them that if they didn’t stop treating us that way, we would review our relationship. That’s exactly what we have done.”
Defending his decision to join the APC, Udeh-Okoye said he was confident in the party’s leadership and prospects in Enugu.
“Now that we’re in the APC, we have the same rights as every member. Whatever comes, we will take it in good faith. We love the party, we cherish the party,” he said.
“APC in Enugu is intact and peaceful. Governor Peter Mbah is the leader of the party in the state. The people of Enugu are very happy with his governance. By 11 a.m. on election day, the results will speak for themselves.”
He dismissed reports of internal resistance within the APC following recent defections, describing dissenters as “loose cannons” with no real influence.
“Anyone saying there’s tension in Enugu APC is wrong. Our chairman and secretary are in place, and we’re united. The movement to APC is massive — from the governor to former governors like Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Sullivan Chime, to myself and other leaders,” Udeh-Okoye asserted.
“Mark my words: by 2027, all 24 State Assembly seats, eight House of Representatives seats, and three Senate seats in Enugu State will be APC.”
Responding to concerns that Enugu voters have consistently rejected the APC, Udeh-Okoye maintained that social media sentiment does not reflect ground reality.
“Social media is not the determinant of how people feel or how elections are won. We know the polling booths and the people. If you come to Enugu, I’ll take you around and you’ll see for yourself,” he said.
Udeh-Okoye concluded with optimism, predicting a political shift in Enugu State under the APC.
“Enugu is calm, united, and moving forward with the APC. By 2027, the results will prove that,” he declared.
Boluwatife Enome