Breaking: Audu Ogbeh, Ex-PDP National Chairman Dies At 78

Audu Ogbeh, Ex-PDP National Chairman Dies At 78

Chief Audu Ogbeh, former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Minister of Agriculture from 2015 to 2019, is dead. He was aged 78 years.

He was reportedly died peacefully on Saturday, August 9, leaving behind a legacy of public service, intellectual rigour, and political resilience.

In a statement, his family said funeral arrangements will be announced in due course, and the family has requested privacy as they mourn the loss of their patriarch.

The statement said: “He departed peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of integrity, service and dedication to our nation and community. We are comforted by the many lives he touched and the examples he set.”

“Details of the funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course. We thank friends, colleagues and well-wishers for their prayers and support during this time.

“We will appreciate some privacy at this time while we mourn the loss of our patriarch.”

Ogbeh’s political career spanned decades, marked by his deep involvement in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

As PDP National Chairman from 2001 to 2005, he presided over the party during a critical phase of its dominance. His tenure was defined by efforts to uphold internal democracy and party discipline, but also by a dramatic fallout with then-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

In 2005, Ogbeh was pressured to resign after criticising Obasanjo’s handling of political crises, particularly in Anambra State. The circumstances surrounding his resignation, allegedly involving a tense visit from Obasanjo, sparked widespread debate about executive overreach and party autonomy.

His tenure was marked by efforts to reposition the PDP ahead of the 2023 general elections, but it was also marred by internal divisions and controversy.

Following the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the PDP’s presidential candidate, Ayu faced mounting pressure from party stakeholders to resign, in line with the party’s zoning principles which favored a southern leadership balance. Critics argued that with Atiku hailing from the North, Ayu, also a northerner, should vacate his position to promote regional equity and foster unity within the party.

However, Ayu resisted calls to step down, a decision that deepened internal rifts and fueled accusations of gatekeeping politics. His refusal was seen by many as a betrayal of the PDP’s founding ethos of inclusiveness and democratic competition, which led to the formation of G5 led by former Rivers State Governor Nyesome Wike.

The controversy not only weakened the party’s cohesion ahead of the elections but also sparked debates about leadership accountability and the future of internal democracy within the PDP.

Despite his contributions to the party’s structure and legacy, Ayu’s tenure as chairman became a flashpoint for broader concerns about transparency, regional representation, and the sustainability of the PDP as a national platform.

He was largely blamed for PDP’s dismal performance in the 2023 presidential election, the root cause of crisis bedeviling the party and leading it to the precipice.

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