By: Bayero Ade
The ongoing leadership tussle in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened as stakeholders clash over the National Secretary position, following a recent Court of Appeal ruling in Enugu.
The appellate court upheld an earlier Federal High Court verdict, which removed Senator Samuel Anyanwu from the position and declared Ude Okoye as the rightful National Secretary. Despite this, Anyanwu has refused to step down, further dividing the party.
The crisis began in 2023 when Southeast PDP stakeholders chose Ude Okoye to replace Anyanwu, who had resigned to contest the Imo State governorship election under the PDP’s platform. After losing the election to Governor Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Anyanwu attempted to reclaim the position, disregarding the court rulings against him.
Last week’s judgment by Justice Ridwan Abdullahi reaffirmed Ude Okoye’s legitimacy as National Secretary. However, Anyanwu vowed to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court, sparking a fresh wave of tension within the party.
The PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) is now divided. While one faction supports Okoye’s claim, another, led by Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum and National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, backs Anyanwu. Both Damagum and Bature are aligned with Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Ude Okoye, a former Deputy National Youth Leader of the PDP, has urged the party to respect the court’s ruling and allow him to assume his duties without further resistance.
Political analysts warn that Anyanwu’s defiance could expose the PDP to additional legal battles, potentially jeopardizing the party’s stability and future activities. This internal conflict continues to pose a significant challenge to the PDP’s unity and effectiveness as a major opposition party.
Leave a Reply