PDP BoT Backs Governors, Confirms Ude-Okoye as National Secretary

The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has confirmed Sunday Ude-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary. The decision, announced by BoT Chairman and former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, follows months of internal conflict over the position.

At the 80th BoT meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, Wabara stated that the board had reviewed all legal rulings and submissions before arriving at its decision.

“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 facing internal struggles since its poor performance in the 2023 general elections. Many members have blamed acting National Chairman Umar Damagum for the party’s setbacks, leading to growing dissatisfaction within the party.

The controversy over the National Secretary position started when the South-East PDP nominated Ude-Okoye to replace Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who ran for the Imo State governorship election. Despite the Court of Appeal ruling in December 2024 in favor of Ude-Okoye, Anyanwu’s supporters refused to accept the decision, creating further tensions within the party.

On January 28, the dispute took a dramatic turn when Anyanwu’s loyalists disrupted a BoT meeting and forcefully removed Ude-Okoye from the venue before security restored order.

In response, PDP governors, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, expressed their support for Ude-Okoye and urged the National Working Committee (NWC) to enforce the court’s ruling immediately.

Wabara noted that the BoT’s decision was based on a thorough report from a committee led by Barrister Kabiru Turaki (SAN), which examined the legal and constitutional aspects of the issue.

“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,” Wabara said.

Despite this decision, Anyanwu remains defiant. He has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, the Supreme Court, and the Appeal Court, insisting that he is still the rightful National Secretary. He also criticized the governors for supporting Ude-Okoye, warning that their actions could worsen the party’s internal crisis.

Meanwhile, the BoT praised the PDP Governors’ Forum and the NWC for scheduling a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on March 13, 2025. The board described the meeting as a critical step 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.

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