By Mohammed Bello Doka, Abuja Network News
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced the appointment of Senator Ben Ndi Obi as the new Secretary of its National Convention Organizing Committee (NCOC), following the defection of Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The decision, which was made public through a statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, came after the National Working Committee (NWC) met to review developments within the party ahead of its highly anticipated national elective convention slated for November 15th and 16th, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to Ologunagba, the leadership of the PDP acted swiftly to fill the vacant position to ensure the smooth and uninterrupted preparation for the upcoming convention, which will produce a new set of national officers to steer the affairs of the party.
“The NWC, in its wisdom, has approved the appointment of Distinguished Senator Ben Obi as Secretary of the National Convention Organizing Committee to replace Governor Peter Mbah, who has since defected to the APC. The Committee remains committed to organizing a credible and transparent convention that reflects the unity and collective will of our great party,” the statement read in part.
The Committee is chaired by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, who has been charged with overseeing the coordination and execution of all convention-related activities. Party insiders say preparations are already in top gear, with consultations ongoing across states to ensure a peaceful, inclusive, and well-organized convention.
Senator Ben Obi, a respected party elder and former presidential adviser, is known for his long-standing loyalty to the PDP and experience in political mobilization. His appointment is seen as a strategic move to strengthen the committee and reassure stakeholders of the party’s readiness for internal reforms.
The PDP leadership also used the occasion to call on its members nationwide to remain steadfast, united, and focused on the task ahead, stressing that the 2025 convention represents a turning point in the party’s quest to reclaim power at the national level.
Political observers note that the decision to replace Mbah swiftly reflects the PDP’s renewed commitment to internal discipline and loyalty, especially as defections continue to shape the nation’s political landscape ahead of the next general elections.
The Ibadan convention, analysts say, will serve as a litmus test for the opposition party’s internal cohesion and readiness to reposition itself as a credible alternative to the ruling APC.