Politics
PDP Tasks S’East Leaders On Grievances
The National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has advised leaders in the South-East to take actions to allay fears and address grievances of the people within the region.
The National Publicity Secretary, Mr Dayo Adeyeye, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen last Saturday in Abuja.
Adeyeye granted the interview when he received a delegation of Communist Party of China led by Dong Weihua, who visited the party.
“I believe that IPOB may have been allowed to be an organisation of mainly young elements.
“Young elements who are out to fill a vacuum that they see as created by their leaders not taking appropriate action to address their grievances.
“It is now time for the leaders to act and fill those gaps and allay the fears the people that they will not be persecuted or marginalised.
“I believe that the governors have acted in the best interest of the country,’’ he said.
Adeyeye also advised IPOB leaders to be clear on their demand, as well on their tactics and strategies for pursuing such demands.
“If you say you are non-violent, you should not be provoked into acts of violence.
“They should be able to study the tactics employed be the civil right groups in the United States.
“If you believe in non-violence, you should study the tactics employed by the civil rights group in US led by the great Martin Luther King jnr. so that they will not be provoked under any circumstances.
“There was an instance when Martin Lither was beaten up and slapped during his struggle but he refused to react: that is the tactics of non-violence.
“It has been employed in many parts of the world with great success.”
Adeyeye, who commended the steps taken so far by the South East Governors Forum to ensure peace and stability within the region, however faulted the declaration of IPOB as a terrorist group.
He said it was not in the power of the military, but that of the NASS and relevant government agencies to declare an organisation a terrorist.
“I believe there are processes and procedures to be followed before such can be done.
“It is not in the powers of any organisation, especially the military, to unilaterally declare any organisation a terrorist organisation.”
On the plan of the All Progressives Congress to hold public hearing on the issue of restructuring, Adeyeye described it as a delay tactic.
He said it was the responsibility of the National Assembly to hold public hearing and not a political party.
During a press conference held in Owerri, the coalition called the campaign a “dangerous and shameful display” designed to distract the public from the governor’s performance in office.
The CSOs directly linked the Greater Imo Initiative (GII) —the group that made the allegations on September 4, 2025—to Governor Uzodimma, describing the group as his “mouthpiece and attack dog.”
“Every word spoken against INEC was spoken on his behalf.
“By falsely alleging that Professor Yakubu has an alliance with Dr. Amadi to compromise the 2027 elections, Uzodimma has not only maligned a man of proven integrity but also assaulted the very foundation of our democracy”, said Dr Agbo Frederick, speaking for the coalition.
The coalition described Professor Yakubu as a “beacon of electoral professionalism” and called the attempt to soil his reputation “defamatory and a national security risk.”
They also defended Dr. Amadi, a “respected development scholar,” stating that the governor’s accusations were “laughable, desperate, and dangerous.”
The CSOs see the motive behind the campaign as an attempt to “silence the dissent, intimidate the opposition, and divert attention from the governor’s abysmal record in office.”
The coalition issued four key demands to Governor Uzodimma: An immediate retraction of the false and defamatory allegations against Professor Mahmood Yakubu and Dr. Chima Amadi.
- A public apology to both men within seven days, to be published in at least three national newspapers and broadcast on major television networks.
- An end to diversionary tactics and proxy propaganda.
- A renewed focus on governance, including addressing insecurity, unemployment, and poverty in Imo State.
The CSOs warned that failure to comply would force them to “review our position with a view to seeking legal redress from Governor Uzodimma for defamation, false accusation, and reckless endangerment of lives.”
“Governor Uzodimma must be reminded that he did not find himself in the seat of power to chase shadows.
“We call on all Nigerians to reject Uzodimma’s diversionary antics as they are nothing short of desperate plots by a government terrified of accountability”, the statement concluded.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC expressed concern that preventing the senator from resuming her legislative duties violates democratic principles and disenfranchises her constituents.
“The suspension, having been imposed by the Senate and not a court of law, has lapsed. Any further attempt to prevent her from resuming is therefore both illegal and morally indefensible,” Mallam Abdullahi said.
The party noted that denying Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan access to the chamber silences the voice of the people who elected her, adding that the withdrawal of her salary, aides, and office access during the suspension amounted to excessive punishment.
The ADC also criticised the Clerk of the National Assembly for declining to process her resumption on grounds that the matter was before the courts, arguing that the Clerk’s role was administrative, not judicial.
“Administrative caution must not translate into complicity. When the administrative machinery becomes hostage to political interests, the institution itself is diminished,” the party stated.
Highlighting that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan is one of only four women in the 109-member Senate, the ADC warned that the handling of the case sends a discouraging signal about gender inclusion in Nigerian politics.
“Any action that resembles gender intimidation of the few women in the Senate would only discourage women’s participation. Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy while excluding half of its population from key decision-making spaces,” Mallam Abdullahi added.
The ADC insisted that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan be allowed to resume her seat immediately, stressing that the matter was about more than one individual.
“What is at stake here is not just one Senate seat, but the integrity of our democracy itself,” the party said.
