PDP Govs Back Ude-Okoye as National Secretary, Reject Anyanwu

Kehinde Fajobi

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have affirmed Sunday Ude-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary, distancing themselves from the embattled Samuel Anyanwu.

The decision, based on a Court of Appeal ruling in Enugu, was reached on Friday during a meeting in Asaba, Delta State, chaired by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed.

In a communique signed by Mohammed, the governors called on the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and the National Working Committee (NWC) to convene a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting by 13 March 2025 at the latest.

“The Forum noted with delight the ongoing efforts at resolving the crisis in the National Working Committee, NWC, on the position of the National Secretary, and has reaffirmed its support for the Court of Appeal judgment; consequently, the Forum advised the NWC to set up the machinery for the effective implementation of the court judgment,” the communique read.

The PDP has faced internal divisions before and after the 2023 elections, with leadership disputes worsening after Anyanwu’s nomination as the party’s governorship candidate in Imo State.

The South-East PDP had argued that Anyanwu should step down as National Secretary due to his new political role.

On 20 December 2024, the Court of Appeal in Enugu ruled in favour of Ude-Okoye, a decision communicated to the party on 24 December.

However, on 27 January 2025, the Court of Appeal in Abuja issued a restraining order allowing Anyanwu to remain in the position until the Supreme Court rules on the matter.

Tensions escalated on Thursday when Anyanwu’s supporters forcefully removed Ude-Okoye from a Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting, prompting security intervention.

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