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3 hours ago
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The leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened following the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) endorsement of Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the legitimate National Secretary.
Senator Adolphus Wabara, the BoT Chairman, formally recognised Udeh-Okoye as the party’s rightful National Secretary during the ongoing 80th BoT meeting in Abuja.
This move comes after a similar endorsement by PDP governors, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, of the Court of Appeal’s judgment on the National Secretary position. The governors, in a meeting on January 31, had called on the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to implement the judicial ruling, which confirmed Udeh-Okoye as the rightful National Secretary.
At the same time, the governors distanced themselves from Senator Samuel Anyanwu and affirmed Udeh-Okoye’s appointment during a meeting in Asaba, Delta State.
Wabara explained that the BoT’s decision followed a thorough review of the documentation provided by both Udeh-Okoye and Anyanwu.
The PDP has faced growing discontent within its ranks, with much of the frustration aimed at acting National Chairman Umar Damagum. Many members blame Damagum for the party’s decline since he succeeded Iyorchia Ayu.
The conflict over the National Secretary role has worsened since the South-East PDP nominated Udeh-Okoye to replace Anyanwu, who contested the Imo State governorship election.
Despite the Court of Appeal’s ruling in December 2024 confirming Udeh-Okoye’s position, Anyanwu’s supporters have rejected the decision, intensifying tensions within the party.
On January 28, the situation escalated when supporters of Anyanwu disrupted a BoT meeting, physically ejecting Udeh-Okoye before security personnel intervened. In response, PDP governors, led by Governor Bala Mohammed, reiterated their support for the court’s ruling and urged the NWC to implement it immediately.
Wabara stressed that the BoT’s decision was based on the findings of a committee led by Barrister Kabiru Turaki (SAN), which had thoroughly examined the legal and constitutional aspects of the matter.
Wabara affirmed, “The BoT asserts its role as the conscience of the party under Sections 13 (1)(r) and 32 (5)(a) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), ensuring the highest standards of morality within the party.”
Wabara also called on the NWC to formally recognise Udeh-Okoye as National Secretary and swear him in, in line with the Court of Appeal’s ruling.
However, Anyanwu has strongly criticised the governors’ endorsement of Udeh-Okoye, warning that it could further divide the party. He rejected the BoT’s decision, claiming that it was invalid because a significant portion of the BoT members in attendance had expired tenures. He also argued that he and the National Chairman were not invited to the meeting, undermining the legitimacy of the BoT’s decision.
Anyanwu insisted, “Their advice is just that—advice, and it cannot be taken seriously.”
Meanwhile, Senate President Godswill Akpabio took a swipe at the PDP during Wednesday’s plenary session, mocking the party’s leadership struggles. In a sarcastic comment, Akpabio asked Senate Minority Leader Patrick Abba Moro, “Who is your (PDP) National Secretary? The governors have their National Secretary, and other members have their National Secretary.”
In response, Senator Moro, who heads the PDP Caucus in the National Assembly, reaffirmed that Senator Samuel Anyanwu remained the legitimate National Secretary of the party.
Last Friday, PDP governors, in a meeting in Asaba, Delta State, formally recognised Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the new National Secretary and directed the NWC to officially acknowledge him. In a communiqué signed by BoT Chairman Wabara, the board confirmed that its decision was based on the findings of a committee led by Barrister Kabiru Turaki (SAN), which had reviewed the legal implications of the case.
The BoT cited a declaratory judgment from the High Court of Enugu, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal, affirming Udeh-Okoye as the rightful National Secretary. “The BoT, by adopting the report, recognises Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP in full obedience to the declaratory judgment of the High Court of Enugu, as also upheld by the Court of Appeal, there being no contrary or overriding judgment from any court of superior jurisdiction,” the communiqué stated.
The BoT has urged the NWC to immediately swear in Udeh-Okoye and called on all PDP stakeholders to respect the court’s ruling. It also commended the PDP Governors’ Forum, the NWC, and other party organs for their commitment to upholding the party’s constitution.
The ongoing leadership drama in the PDP has spilled over into the Senate, where the official defection of Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North, from the PDP to the APC also made headlines. In his defection letter, read aloud by Akpabio, Nwoko cited the party’s internal crisis as the reason for his departure.
“In view of this, I urge the Senate to take this matter seriously by setting up an ad hoc committee to investigate the crisis within the PDP and recommend a way forward to safeguard our democracy,” Nwoko stated.
He called for an investigation into the root causes of the party’s internal conflicts and suggested reforms to strengthen the opposition’s role in Nigerian politics.
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