Tension mounts in PDP over National Secretary position as staff resume at Secretariat

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is embroiled in a deepening conflict over the National Secretary position as staff return to the party’s national secretariat after the holiday break.

At the center of the controversy are Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye, both laying claim to the office.

The tension escalated after the Court of Appeal upheld a lower court’s ruling declaring Ude-Okoye as the legitimate National Secretary, effectively removing Anyanwu.

However, Anyanwu has refused to step aside, citing his appeal to the Supreme Court and a pending application for a stay of execution.

The Court of Appeal found that Anyanwu’s continued occupation of the position, after becoming the PDP gubernatorial candidate for Imo State in 2023, violated the party’s constitution.

The judgment affirmed Ude-Okoye as the rightful occupant of the office. Despite this, Anyanwu insists he remains the National Secretary until the Supreme Court delivers its final verdict.

Ude-Okoye, buoyed by two favorable court judgments, has already resumed his duties.

Adding weight to his claim, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba recently announced the party’s commitment to upholding the Court of Appeal’s ruling as the current binding judgment.

The crisis has left staff members anxious, fearing potential clashes between supporters of the two claimants.

An anonymous staff member expressed concerns about the possibility of unrest at the secretariat, noting, “Both individuals may show up with their supporters, and that could lead to chaos. There is only one office; there can’t be two national secretaries at the same time.”

Another staff member stated, “The court has pronounced Ude-Okoye as the National Secretary, but since Anyanwu has appealed, it seems only the Supreme Court’s final judgment can fully resolve this issue.”

Former Senate President and PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, has called on the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to respect the Court of Appeal’s decision.

Wabara emphasized that the judgment affirming Ude-Okoye as the National Secretary is binding and cannot be stayed, urging all party members to prioritize unity and peace.

Senator Anyanwu, who served as the PDP’s 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, sparking the current impasse.