By: Bayero Ade
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing increasing tension over the position of National Secretary as staff members return to the party’s national secretariat following the holiday break.
The dispute centers around two individuals, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye, both asserting their right to the office.
According to Politics Nigeria, the conflict intensified after the Court of Appeal upheld a lower court ruling, declaring Ude-Okoye as the rightful National Secretary and removing Anyanwu from the position. However, Anyanwu has refused to vacate the office, citing his ongoing appeal to the Supreme Court and a pending application for a stay of execution.
The Court of Appeal ruled that Anyanwu’s continued tenure, after becoming the PDP’s gubernatorial candidate for Imo State in 2023, violated the party’s constitution. The judgment affirmed Ude-Okoye as the legitimate holder of the position. Despite this, Anyanwu insists he remains the National Secretary until the Supreme Court issues its final ruling.
Ude-Okoye, supported by two favorable court judgments, has resumed his duties, and PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba recently confirmed the party’s commitment to honoring the Court of Appeal’s ruling as the binding decision.
The standoff has created anxiety among party staff, with fears of potential clashes between supporters of the two claimants. One staff member, speaking anonymously, expressed concern about possible unrest, stating, “There cannot be two National Secretaries. The situation could escalate if both show up with their supporters.”
Another staff member noted, “While the court has declared Ude-Okoye as the National Secretary, Anyanwu’s appeal means the matter can only be fully settled by the Supreme Court.”
Former Senate President and Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara, has urged the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to respect the Court of Appeal’s judgment, emphasizing that it is binding and cannot be stayed. He also called for unity and peace among party members.
Senator Anyanwu, who served as PDP National Secretary since November 2021, vacated the position to contest the Imo State governorship election. Following his defeat, he sought to return to the role, leading to the ongoing dispute.
Leave a Reply