Following the two factional secretaries, Sunday Ude-Okoye and Samuel Anyanwu, who are scheduled to return to office on Monday (today), the turmoil inside the Peoples Democratic Party may worsen.
In separate interviews with reporters on Sunday, Ude-Okoye and Anyanwu said they would resume their work at the PDP National Headquarters in Wadata Plaza, Abuja, today.
In a recent ruling, the Court of Appeal upheld Okoye as the PDP national secretary; however, Anyanwu, the former scribe, refused to recognize the decision, maintaining his position as the official party secretary.
With senior officials endorsing either of the two individuals, the development has further polarized the party.
According to the findings, the incident has widened the rift inside the National Working Committee, with certain governors and at least 12 NWC members now siding with Ude-Okoye while others continue to support Anyanwu.
Since the 2023 election, the opposition party has been in crisis, and many party members blame the unrest on Umar Damagum, the Acting National Chairman and former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike’s supporter.
Every level and organization inside the party has been significantly impacted by the crisis.
The most recent conflict began in 2023 when Anyanwu was chosen as the party’s candidate for the governorship of Imo State and Ude-Okoye, a former National Youth Leader, was nominated by the South-East zone to succeed him.
Since Anyanwu became the candidate for the Imo election, the South-East PDP leadership contended that he was no longer the national secretary.
However, there were legal issues with Ude-Okoye’s nomination as national secretary, which resulted to two conflicting court decisions.
An Enugu High Court ruling that had previously affirmed Ude-Okoye’s nomination as Anyanwu’s successor was upheld by the Court of Appeal on December 20, 2024.
On December 31, 2024, Okoye arrived at the party headquarters in Abuja to take office, armed with the ruling.
However, Anyanwu mandated that party personnel, including journalists, be prohibited from accessing the PDP National Secretariat until January 13.
As supporters of the factional secretaries almost got into a violent altercation, the incident almost resulted in a breach of the peace.
Emmanuel Okoronkwo, a party official who supported the former national secretary, attacked Ndubuisi Orji, a correspondent for The Sun, during the event.
Speaking to our correspondent, Ude-Okoye insisted that he is the legitimate national secretary based on the appellate court’s decision.
The factional secretary emphasized that there is no rift inside the NWC and rejected the idea of a showdown.
“Now, if someone truly loves the party, would they plan to destroy it?” Ude-Okoye asked in response to inquiries over a purported threat by certain individuals to attack party leaders over the dispute. Would they try to disperse the party secretariat? Why would someone attempt to demolish their own office if they are aware that they are the national secretary?
However, that is a question for the individual organizing such events to respond to. I can’t dance naked in the market with a crazy person because I would also be crazy if I did.
“People are able to distinguish between those who are attempting to destroy something and those who are correct. I am not an agent when someone is functioning in that capacity. I belong to the PDP. I am and will continue to serve as the national secretary. I will never arrive to destroy any PDP property.
The former youth leader said in an interview that his weekly itinerary would be shaped by his Sunday night meeting with party leaders.
He did, however, reiterate that he would return to his duties as secretary and be present at the party headquarters today if needed.
My plans for the week, which will begin tomorrow, will be shaped by my meeting with the party leaders this evening. He wrote, “I have returned to my duties and will be in the office whenever I need to.”
Anyanwu claimed that he is still the secretary after requesting a court stay of execution.
Anyanwu allayed worries of violence by confirming that he would resume today in an exclusive chat with our correspondent.
“Obviously, they understand what a stay of execution means—that is, that the status quo is maintained,” he said. There isn’t anything to say about it.
“Today (tomorrow), the party will resume, and I’m going straight to work. If I say I want to resume, is there anything that will stop me? If I feel like it, I will resume.
Anyanwu stated, “For me, what is important is our party, the PDP,” in response to inquiries on a potential confrontation. I have submitted my case to the Supreme Court, and this party is a legal party. We shall keep working and bring our party together with the execution stay.
These interests are all related to 2027. Everyone should relax; power comes from God alone.
Adolphus Wabara, the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, offered his thoughts on the situation and stressed the need to follow the court’s ruling in order to avoid chaos.
The former Senate president urged anyone unhappy with the ruling to file an appeal with the Supreme Court, confirming that the BoT was aware of the events surrounding the national secretary’s office.
“The BoT has been briefed,” he said. As supporters of the rule of law, we will abide by the ruling. Regardless of how fair or harsh the verdict is seen to be, we will follow it.
“Everything the court says has to be followed. Therefore, in order to prevent chaos, we shall abide by any opposing ruling that is made by tomorrow. The PDP supports constitutionality and the rule of law.
Therefore, I advise all party members to abide by the ruling in order to prevent such problems. Members and parties are required to abide by this (Appeal Court verdict) until the Supreme Court issues another ruling.
Debo Ologunagba, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, stated in a statement that Ude-Okoye is still the party secretary in line with the Enugu ruling of the Appeal Court.
According to Ologunagba, who characterized the PDP as a law-abiding party, the party was unaware of any execution stay.
He went on to say that after being briefed, the Board of Trustees, governors, and NWC all acknowledged Ude-Okoye as the party scribe.
Ologunagba declared, “We are carrying out the ruling. Ude-Okoye was introduced to the Board of Trustees and the Governors Forum during their meeting.
As I stated, we must abide by the ruling. As a party, we can clearly see the judgment. As a party that upholds the rule of law, PDP abides by the ruling. If any court procedures tomorrow require us to do otherwise, we will do so.
To the best of my knowledge, the party has not been granted a stay of execution as we speak. The position as I speak with you is that the party has not received any contrary information.
“Anyone who is truly a party man, who believes in the rule of law and respects court judgments, would, in the interest of peace and justice, abide by the judgment,” Ologunagba said in response to a query regarding a potential conflict today. Therefore, self-help should not be used by anyone, and we should always act morally.
Since we lack the authority to examine the ruling, this party will abide by it regardless of what anyone says or does. And as a law-abiding party, we will likewise abide by any subsequent ruling that replaces this one.
Calm has been urged by former Deputy National Publicity Secretary Diran Odeyemi and PDP Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor.
Members of the National Executive Council cautioned that the party’s issues would worsen if the dispute was not handled cautiously.
In a conversation with our correspondent, Osadolor said, “The issue is serious and could get difficult if not handled appropriately. But I’m positive there won’t be a confrontation.
As you can see, the PDP has internal systems and structures and is a very organic party. Above all, it is a party that abides by the law. Thus, it’s a straightforward problem. There won’t be a confrontation.
The fact is that, although I am a member of the NWC, I am fed up with the organization’s internal strife. I believe that if we are unable to unite as a nation, this NWC should find a way to bring about peace within this party and, consequently, throughout the nation.
“The fact is, I have no idea who those members are fighting for or whose interests they are advancing. However, we should work together to support Nigerians in their growth if we think that our purpose is to represent the interests of all Nigerians.
“This is the time for all members of the party to come together,” Odeyemi said in his plea for peace. If caution is not used, the delicate matter of the national secretary may worsen the party’s dilemma.
“I would advise all sides to abide by the Constitution while taking the judgment’s interpretations and ramifications into account. I implore them both to seek harmony and refrain from making things worse inside the PDP.
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