The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has affirmed former National Youth Leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye, as the party’s substantive National Secretary, throwing its weight behind PDP governors amid the party’s lingering leadership crisis.
The BoT Chairman and former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, made the announcement on Tuesday at the 80th meeting of the Board in Abuja, following months of internal wrangling over the position.
“The BoT, after reviewing all submissions and relevant court judgments, recognizes Hon. Sunday Ude-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP in full compliance with the declaratory judgment of the Enugu High Court, upheld by the Court of Appeal,” Wabara stated.
The PDP has been embroiled in a leadership crisis exacerbated by the fallout from the 2023 general elections.
Discontent has been particularly directed at the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, with party members blaming him for the PDP’s declining fortunes after taking over from Iyorchia Ayu.
The battle over the National Secretary position intensified after the South-East PDP nominated Ude-Okoye to replace Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who contested the Imo State governorship election.
Despite the Court of Appeal’s December 2024 ruling affirming Ude-Okoye, Anyanwu’s loyalists resisted the decision, leading to tensions within the party.
Matters escalated on January 28 when Anyanwu’s supporters disrupted a BoT meeting, forcibly ejecting Ude-Okoye before security personnel restored order.
In response, PDP governors, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, endorsed the court’s ruling and called for immediate implementation by the National Working Committee.
Wabara noted that the BoT’s decision was based on the report of a committee chaired by Barr. Kabiru Turaki (SAN), which thoroughly reviewed the legal and constitutional aspects of the matter.
Wabara said, “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.
“The BoT charges the NWC to recognize and immediately swear in Hon. Sunday Ude-Okoye as the National Secretary of the PDP, in obedience to the judgment of the Court of Appeal.”
Meanwhile, Anyanwu has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, the Supreme Court, and the Appeal Court, insisting he remains the rightful National Secretary.
He criticised the governors’ endorsement of Ude-Okoye, warning it could deepen the party’s crisis.
The BoT commended the PDP Governors’ Forum and the NWC for scheduling the National Executive Committee meeting for March 13, 2025, describing it as crucial for the party’s future.
“The NEC meeting will serve as a platform for critical deliberations that will shape not just the future of our party but also the political trajectory of Nigeria,” the BoT stated.
