By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor
ENUGU—The peace plan proposal for  Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, derailed yesterday following the decision of the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, not to serve as the chairman of the peace panel.

The panel as constituted by the National Vice-Chairman (SouthEast), Chief Olisa Metuh, last Monday had Governors Theodore Orji of Abia, Ikedi Ohakim of Imo and Martin Elechi of Ebonyi as members.

The committee, which was constituted to end the lingering crisis in Enugu State chapter of the party, equally had Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, as the fifth member.

Senator Ekweremadu, Vanguard learnt yesterday, withdrew from the committee’s activities on the ground of what he was said to have described as his deep interest in the crisis.

Senator Ekweremadu, who is the highest elected political office holder from the South East, is from Enugu and had not hidden his position on the issue.

Vanguard learnt yesterday that Ekweremadu rejected the job to chair the peace panel on the basis of what he was said to have described as his clear position on the issue.

The crisis in the Enugu chapter was stoked by the dissolution of the Engr. Vita Etiaba led State executive by the national chairman of the party, Dr. Okwesileze Nwodo purportedly on the directive of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which claimed that the congress that elected the Etiaba executive was flawed. Nwodo like Ekweremadu is from Enugu State.

Ekweremadu alongside most members of the Governor Sullivan Chime led government, however, took issues with Dr. Nwodo’s action as they alleged that a valid congress was conducted in the presence of INEC officials in 2008.

Ekweremadu had further asserted his stance at a constituency briefing for his constituents last weekend when he affirmed that speculation to the effect that the Etiaba executive has been dissolved was wishful thinking.

“The news emanates from Abuja and I am coming from Abuja and I can tell you nobody has changed the structure,” Ekweremadu had told his cheering supporters.