Enugu commissioner, Chukwunwike, emerges PDP chairman

Enugu State Commissioner for Housing, Martin Chukwunwike, has been unanimously elected as the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The election took place during the 2024 Enugu State PDP Congress held at Okpara Square on Saturday.

Chukwunwike’s election was uncontested, as announced by the chairman of the state PDP Congress Committee, Dr. Tony Iyoha.

Iyoha declared the results of the elected State Executive Committee, confirming Chukwunwike’s position as the new state chairman.

Notably, Chukwunwike has served as a Commissioner in the State Executive Council three times, from 2003-2007, 2007-2011, and 2023 until his recent election as PDP state chairman.

Declaring the result of the election, Iyoha said, “By the power vested on me as the chairman of the electoral committee for Enugu State PDP Congress, I declare you as the duly elected PDP State Executive Committee.”

Earlier, Iyoha stated that he and his committee members were in Enugu to conduct the election for state PDP executive.

Iyoha commended Governor Peter Mbah-led administration for holding the party members united despite the outcome of the 2023 general elections.

He said, “We want to thank the government of Enugu State for making the PDP family in Enugu to be one. Since the Congress started, we have not had any problems. The process has been flawless, and we thank the governor, Dr Peter Mbah, for making the PDP family in Enugu State proud.”

In his acceptance speech, the new chairman, Chukwunwike, thanked Mbah and all the delegates for reposing their confidence in him and other elected members of the SEC.

He promised that he would sustain the popularity of PDP in Enugu State as a party of “first choice”.

He said, “On behalf of the new Executive of PDP in Enugu State, I congratulate all those elected with me. I also say a very big thank you to the electoral committee that came all the way from Abuja. Your Excellence I want to assure you that this committee will definitely give you what will be described as unalloyed support and unalloyed loyalty. We know that loyalty cannot be 99.9%; is either 100% or you are not loyal. I will assure you that this committee will show you unalloyed 100% loyalty.

“I also want to assure His Excellence and the entire state that wherever the past executive stopped, we are going to build further. You know that no union is perfect, but everywhere things have gone wrong, I assure you that we will make sure all those things are ratified and make PDP a singular party in Enugu State. It is also obvious that in two weeks time we are going to elect our local government Chairmen and councillors. I want to assure you that this team will do our best to make sure that we continue to do our 17 over 17.”

Some other elected executive members of the party are: “Deputy Chairman – Chief Steve Oruruo; Secretary – Mr Chukwudi Nnadozie; Auditor – Mr Toby Odinwankpa; Deputy Chairman Enugu East – Nnamdi Nwafor; Deputy Chairman Enugu West – Ernest Nwaeze; State Organising Secretary – Onyi Odibe; State Woman Leader – Princess Peace Nnaji; Youth Leader – Beneath Ajah and Publicity Secretary – Mr Uchenna Obute among others.”

Earlier in his farewell address, the outgone chairman, Chief Augustine Nnamani, thanked Governor Peter Mbah for reviving PDP again in Enugu State from the Peter Obi’s factor, which greatly affected the party in the state and entire South East.

“Peter Obi’s factor affected the party’s future in the state, not only in the state but across the South East region, but we thank God that Peter Mbah survived and rescued the party. Now we are a party of number one choice.”