Nelson Ugwuagbo

The South-East Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned it may review its relationship with the party if its recommendation of Sunday Udeh-Okoye as National Secretary is not honoured.

The threat was issued in a communique released on Wednesday at the end of the committee’s meeting held at the Government House in Enugu, the Enugu State capital.

Reading the communique, ZEC Chairman, Ali Odefa, emphasized the South-East’s unwavering loyalty to the PDP since its formation, noting that the zone has remained steadfast even as members in other regions continue to defect from the party.

The zonal leadership called on the National Working Committee (NWC) to respect its earlier decision, urging that the Deputy National Secretary immediately assume the role of Acting National Secretary pending the formal ratification of a substantive secretary by the National Executive Committee (NEC), in line with recommendations from the PDP Governors’ Forum as adopted by the NWC.

“The South East ZEC exhaustively deliberated on the directive of the NWC and came to the conclusion that it offered a sure pathway to peace, unity, stability, and progress of our party,” the statement read. “Consequently, the ZEC unanimously recommended Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the candidate to complete the term of office of the National Secretary.”

The South-East PDP warned that further delay in honouring its position could force it to reconsider its place within the party.

“The South East has consistently served as a stronghold of the PDP from inception. In PDP’s near three-decade existence, we have given our loyalty and all to the party,” the caucus stated.

It noted that, while the PDP continues to lose members following the 2023 general elections, the South-East has remained proactive in strengthening the party, citing recent high-profile defections into the PDP from the Labour Party in Enugu.

The zonal leadership appealed to the national leadership to act swiftly on the matter, saying that prompt resolution would put an end to the “needless lingering dispute.”

President Bola Tinubu has submitted the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s (FCTA) 2025 Appropriation Bill to the Senate for consideration and approval.

The request was conveyed in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read during plenary on Wednesday.

Citing Section 299 of the Constitution, which vests legislative authority over the FCT in the National Assembly, Tinubu presented the N1.7 trillion budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal year.

According to the letter, the proposed budget focuses on key sectors including healthcare services, job creation, youth empowerment, social welfare, educational infrastructure, and agricultural productivity.

The President stated that the budget is designed to alleviate poverty and improve living standards in the FCT. He noted that 85 percent of the capital expenditure is allocated to the completion of ongoing projects, while the remaining 15 percent is set aside for new initiatives.

“This is to sustain the ongoing efforts at providing basic infrastructure and social amenities in the FCT,” Tinubu said.

He expressed confidence that the Senate would give the proposal prompt consideration and ensure its timely passage.

The Federal Government has announced the temporary closure of the Ijora-Marine Bridge in Lagos State for urgent repair works, scheduled to begin on Sunday, May 18.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, the repairs will last for 21 days, starting from 7:00 a.m. on the commencement day.

Kesha stated that while some sections of the bridge will be fully closed to traffic, others will experience partial closures throughout the repair period.

The scope of work includes lifting the bridge deck to replace worn-out bearings and executing other critical maintenance tasks aimed at improving the safety and comfort of the bridge for motorists and pedestrians.

“We understand the inconvenience this may cause, but this is a necessary step to keep the bridge in good condition and ensure the safety of all road users,” Kesha said.

She added that traffic diversion measures have been put in place, and traffic officials will be deployed to manage the flow of vehicles and provide necessary guidance to motorists.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday rejected a constitutional amendment bill seeking to mandate the rotation of the offices of the President and Vice President among the six geopolitical zones of the country.

The proposed legislation was one of seven constitutional alteration bills listed on the order paper for consideration. All seven were rejected.

However, the House resolved to revisit the bills individually on Wednesday and consider each on its own merit.

At the start of the session, the House had suspended its rules to allow concurrent debate on all seven bills, permitting members to choose any for discussion.

The bill on rotational presidency received the most attention, with a majority of lawmakers speaking against it. Many warned that mandating such rotation in the constitution could set a dangerous precedent.

Deputy Minority Leader Aliyu Madaki led the opposition, arguing that the Federal Character Commission already addresses issues of representation. He said the idea of rotation should not be constitutionalised but left to political parties, which have mechanisms to ensure equitable distribution of offices during elections.