The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing a serious leadership crisis as Sunday Ude Okoye and Senator Sam Anyanwu continue to claim the position of national secretary.
Naija News reports that the disagreement has caused a rift within the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and Board of Trustees (BoT), destabilizing the opposition as the national secretariat reopens after the holidays. There is a fear.
Sunday Ude Okoye, who was recently appointed National Secretary by the Court of Appeal in Enugu, has the support of several NWC members and BoT leaders. However, Sen. Anyangwu insists he remains a legitimate lawmaker, citing an appeal pending at the Supreme Court to uphold the status quo.
“I continue to be the National Secretary. My status quo is intact as my appeal is ongoing,” Anyanwu told the Nigeria Tribune on Wednesday, denying Ude Okoye the authority to hold the office.
The Court of Appeal has ruled in favor of Ude Okoye and confirmed the appointment of the PDP South-East Region to replace Anyanwu following his resignation to contest the Imo State governorship election. .
After his election defeat, Mr Anyangwu returned to reclaim the position, claiming there was no vacancy in the position.
But Ude Okoye maintains that his nomination and the court’s judgment confirm his legitimacy. His attendance at the party’s Wada Plaza secretariat during his vacation indicates his intention to take full control of the office.
The dispute has raised concerns about PDP’s constitutional compliance and internal governance. Senator Anyanwu alleges that the Court of Appeal overstepped its authority by intervening in what it considers to be an internal party matter. He also accused Ude Okoye of circumventing the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanism and violating PDP rules.
Mr. Anyangwu further questioned the jurisdiction of the judiciary in resolving leadership disputes within political parties, arguing that such matters are not justice.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Debo Ologunagba, confirmed the party’s receipt of the Court of Appeal’s judgment on December 24, 2024, reiterating the party’s commitment to the rule of law.
“As a law-abiding political party, we will respect the judgment of the judiciary and uphold this culture,” Ologunagba said.
With the reopening of the PDP secretariat, both factions are expected to take steps to strengthen their claims. While Ude Okoye’s supporters prepare for his official inauguration, Anyanwu’s camp remains staunchly defending his position.
