By Charles Nwoke
A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has affirmed Hon. Chidiebere Egwu Goodluck as the substantive National Vice Chairman (NVC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Southeast zone.
Justice Hilary Oshomah delivered the ruling on Wednesday in Suit No: FHC/AI/CS/229/2024. Egwu, a former Zonal Youth Leader, had sued the PDP National Organising Secretary, Hon. Umar M. Bature, expelled former NVC Chief Ali Odefa, the PDP, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), seeking legal validation of his nomination to the position.
The court relied on the PDP Constitution (amended in 2017) and a previous judgment in Suit No: FHC/AI/CS/182/2024, which upheld Odefa’s suspension and expulsion from the party over anti-party activities.
Justice Oshomah ruled that the position became vacant before Egwu’s nomination. He declared the nomination valid and in line with PDP’s internal procedures. The court further directed the PDP and INEC to officially recognize Egwu as the current NVC Southeast.
The judgment also compels the party to grant Egwu full access to perform his functions until a new zonal congress elects a fresh executive committee.
